v Sussex Sharks RLODC at Hove

WIN AT THE SEASIDE FOR OUTLAWS AS SHARKS ARE STUNNED BY A BOUNCING BALL


Notts beat Sussex by 4 wickets with 22 balls to spare at sunny Hove in an eccentric match. 

Sussex won the toss and elected to bat. Notts were unchanged from the Welbeck weekend. Notts wore black armbands in memory of the great Clive Rice. Disappointingly Sussex failed to observe a minutes silence on a ground where Clive made his career best score of 246 in 1976. 

Sussex got off to a fast start as Gurney, Fletcher and Christian failed to exert control, all bowling too short. Sussex took advantage and aided by a fast outfield raced to 87 in the first 10 overs. Jake Ball came on down the slope from the Cromwell Road End and got pace and bounce. The first two wickets were carbon copies as the two openers were caught off their gloves, taking their eye off rising deliveries. With the opening partnership worth 96 Luke Wright departed for 40 and then 5 runs later Chris Nash went for 49. Read taking both catches. Machan also fell to a short ball this time though the delivery going down the leg side .Ball now had figures of 3 for 12 and the match had suddenly turned with Sussex 108 for 3 from 16 overs.

Patel came on from the Sea End and had George Bailey caught at mid wicket, over his head by Wessels for 18. A poor shot. Sussex 128 for 4.

Cachopa, Sussex's keeper for the match, hit Patel for two sixes over long on. Christian who went for 14 in his first over gradually improved and Cachopa edged him into Read's gloves when on 18, 159 for 5.

Joyce got to 21,an innings which included no boundaries, when he was strangled down the leg side by Christian, 172 for 6. Sussex had completely lost their way and Yardy and Beer were forced to put their heads down.  They added 45 runs in 10 overs before Yardy was caught behind for 30 off the returning Ball. Read had broken the Notts record for the most catches in a List A match with six catches in the innings.

Beer hit the expensive Fletcher for a six but then slashed Gurney to Christian at backward point with 42 to his name, 248 for eight. Alfonso Thomas used his experience with 32 off 31 balls as Sussex closed on 282 for nine off their 50 overs; a below par score. Ball whose opening spell had changed the game finished with four for 47.

Notts lost Wessels to first ball of the innings to a leg before decision that looked a tad too high, Thomas the bowler. Hales and James Taylor clearly had a plan to attack as they went for their shots. Hales got to 23 before mistiming the brisk Mills and being caught at square leg.  Notts 52 for 2 in the 6th over.

Mills generating a lot of pace from the Cromwell Road End was proving expensive, his first four overs going for 46. James Taylor then played on to the returning Liddle for 51 off 43 balls, 114 for three. Brendan Taylor was playing an excellent controlled innings and it came as a surprise when he was caught and bowled by Liddle off a slower ball for 62, an innings which included eight fours and two sixes. Notts now 185 for four. Captain Ed Joyce had only bowled his fifth bowler Yardy for two overs as he was desperately seeking a wicket. Mills was proving a real handful in the twilight and he bowled Patel neck and crop for 38, 204 for five.

Mullaney survived a couple of false shots and all Notts had to do was to bat sensibly with the required run rate only four an over. Christian had not read the script and played a daft shot to be caught at long on off Beer with Notts still needing 54.

Read and Mullaney though batted sensibly knowing that Joyce was running out of options. They gathered singles as the target slowly got smaller. Over 46 from Thomas was the only maiden of the innings but then Mullaney hit Yardy for a four and a huge straight six as Notts won with 22 balls remaining. Mullaney had 42 to his name and Read 22 as the seventh wicket had added an unbroken 56. Tymal Mills had presented the good, the bad and the ugly with 10 overs two for 76. Sussex having scored 96 off 12 overs lost their way after a superb spell from Ball. Sussex literally could not cope with the bouncing Ball.

Notts now go to Essex on Sunday in good confidence. Leg spinner Imran Tahir should make his debut in this game. A strange signing seemingly a bowler that has seen his better days. Indeed I can well remember him being completely out bowled by Samit four years ago on a turner at The Rose Bowl. MAG