Sussex LV Championship at Hove Win 23 points

 

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Day 4

BOWLERS' PERSISTENCE PAYS AS NOTTS START SEASON OFF WITH A WIN

Notts started their second division campaign with a emphatic ten wicket win over a young and inexperienced Sussex line up at sunny Hove today. On a flat deck, Notts were handicapped by the loss of Luke Fletcher with a hamstring injury. They decided to keep Liam Patterson-White bowling from the Sea End and rotated the three seamers Hutton, James and Evison from the Cromwell Road End. Because of the slowness of the pitch, skipper Mullaney packed the leg side field and told his seamers to bowl short, and the tactic worked. It was hard toil for Notts in the first hour as left hander Ali Orr and night watchman Jamie Atkins stood firm but after the latter fell to a good catch by substitute Harrison at short leg, Notts steadily made their way through the Sussex line up with Orr top scoring with 41.

Evison (Sea End) and James opened the bowling on a sunny morning in front of a sparse crowd, many put off by the mass street closures due to the Brighton marathon. In the 21st over, Patterson-White came on from the Sea End, the start of a "marathon" 26 over spell. It took Notts an hour to remove night watchman Jamie Atkins (8) who fell to a good catch by substitute Calvin Harrison above his head at long leg off Brett Hutton, 51 for 2 after 29 overs. Alsop (6) dangled his bat at an angle way outside his off stump and edged the returning James (Cromwell Road End) to Moores, 59 for 3 in the 33rd over. Meanwhile Patterson-White was bowling well, beating Orr with consecutive deliveries, unfortunately keeper Moores was equally bamboozled and two lots of four byes ensued. Sussex got to lunch on 89 for 3 off 45 overs with Orr on 38 and Carter on 13. At this stage a draw still seemed the most likely outcome.

The match situation changed in the post lunch session. In the 47th over Hutton had Oli Carter leg before for 17, 97 for 4. Six overs later, Orr's 161 ball vigil ended as he was smartly caught by Slater at short leg for 45, 117 for 5. Tom Clark (26), on the charge, edged Patterson-White and the ball ballooned off Moores to Mullaney at first slip, 130 for 6. Rawlins going for a pull shot off James played on via a bottom edge to depart for 9, 136 for 7. Lenham fell leg before to Patterson-White for 18, 158 for 8. Sussex had lost five wickets in 19 overs. Slater replaced Patterson-White for a single over before tea. Finn and Crocombe had stood firm for nine overs as Sussex got to tea on 166 for 8 off 75 overs with Finn on 4 and Crocombe on 5.

Patterson-White returned after tea as Slater changed ends. Crocombe fell in the third over after tea, leg before to Patterson-White for 11. Patterson-White finished with 8 wickets in the match for 138 off 76.1 overs, all from the Sea End. Ibrahim was absent hurt with a damaged shoulder, Sussex 172 all out off 78 overs. Hutton 3 for 39, James 3 for 49 and Patterson-White 3 for 54.


Notts needed 14 to win and after a maiden from the Sea End from Atkins. Hameed hit three consecutive off side fours off Clark. It was left for Slater to hit the winning runs getting a two off Atkins, Notts winning by ten wickets at 1628 with 28.5 overs to spare. Notts at one stage standing at 52 for 4, 323 runs Sussex's first innings total had completely turned round the game. The skipper got a personal best and the three young all rounders James, Evison and Patterson-White had outstanding games. Next up Glamorgan on Thursday. MAG

Sussex live stream rating- One Star

Went from bad to worse, to falling off a cliff on Day 4. 

trentbridge.co.uk very quick with good news

Day 3 

CAREER BEST CAPTAIN'S INNINGS GIVES NOTTS THE INITIATIVE

boosted by Evison maiden ton

Notts finished day 3 with a lead of 130 over Sussex who have 9 second wickets standing after career best scores from Steven Mullaney (192) and Joey Evison (109 not out) saw Notts to a total of 534 for 9 declared. The pitch is getting slower and slower and it will be extremely hard work for Notts to bowl Sussex out tomorrow. Much will depend on Liam Patterson-White as Notts could be potentially without Luke Fletcher who left the field after bowling a solitary over. Sussex barely looked like taking a wicket on the featherbed surface as Notts lower order made hay. Joey Evison, batting at nine, achieved his maiden first class ton and overall faced 182 balls with 12 fours and two sixes in a stylish knock. He became the first Notts number nine to score 100 since Luke Wood against the same opponents at Trent Bridge in 2015. The highest score for a Notts number 9 was the famous 189 made by Ted Alletson at the Hove Ground in 1911. Evison added 144 runs for the eighth wicket in 37 overs to take the game away from Sussex. Mullaney beat his previous best of 179 before departing in the first over after tea for 192 off 279 balls with 15 fours and five sixes as he destroyed the inexperienced Sussex attack.

Mullaney and Moores made steady progress in the morning sunshine Mullaney reached his 100 off 141 balls with a single off Clark (Sea End). In the 79th over, Moores (43) edged Rawlins to Alsop at first slip, 256 for 6. The sixth wicket had added 96 runs. The new ball was taken with Notts 260 for 6 after 80.2 overs by Finn (Cromwell Road End) and Crocombe (Sea End). Patterson-White attacked from the off hitting Crocombe for two huge leg-side sixes. Atkins came on for the 87th over from the Cromwell Road End and the 300 came up via a pulled six off his first over by Mullaney. Finn changed ends. Clark came on and had the aggressive Patterson-White leg before to a well pitched up delivery for 44 off 45 balls (5x4,2x6), 325 for 7. Notts got to lunch on 332 for 7 off 93 overs with Mullaney on 128 and Evison on 5.

An off side boundary by Evison off Clark saw Notts to 350 in the 98th over. Alsop dropped Evison on 32 at first slip off Rawlins, a very costly miss. Mullaney got to 150 off 225 balls with a boundary through mid on off Rawlins A six later in the over by Mullaney over long on sat Notts to 400 off 109 balls. Notts were 409 for 7 off 110 overs. A three for Evison off the returning Finn (Cromwell Road End) saw him to 50 off 77 balls. Evison hit a straight six off Lenham. Notts got to tea on 466 for 7 with Mullaney on 192 and Evison on 75

Three balls after tea, Mullaney (192), skied Atkins straight to Crocombe on the deep square leg ropes, 467 for 8. A straight six, a four and a single by Evison off Rawlins saw Notts to 500 in the 134th over. Evison got to his maiden first class ton with a four through the covers off Atkins. A reverse paddle sweep by Hutton saw him caught by Lenham in the covers off Rawlins for 18, 528 for 9. Notts declared at 1700 on 534 for 9 with Evison on 103 and Fletcher on 3. Notts led by 159 after the first innings after a massive recovery from 52 for 4.

Fletcher went lame after his opening over from yesterday Cromwell Road End and was replaced by James for the third over. Hutton bowled the first over from the Sea End.
The pitch was so-slow, that Moores was standing up to the stumps to Hutton. Patterson-White came on from the Sea End in the 10th over. Haines (14) played a dreadful shot pulling a ball from James straight to Patterson-White at cover, 19 for 1 in the 11th over. Hutton bowled the last over of the day as Sussex closed on 29 for 1 off 15 overs with Orr on 14 and night watchman Atkins on 1. Ibrahim who has a shoulder injury is not expected to bat tomorrow but it will be extremely hard work for the Notts bowlers to take 8 wickets on the dead surface albeit against very young and inexperienced opponents.
MAG

Day 2

SUSSEX STILL KEEPING THEIR NOSES AHEAD

Sussex lead by 161 runs at the end of the second day with Notts having five first innings wickets standing. Notts took all of the morning session to polish off the Sussex tail as Tom Clark led the way with a dogged 187 ball 100 (9x4). Patterson-White was the Notts standout with outstanding figures of 5 for 84. The Sussex seam trio of Finn, Crocombe and Atkins possess more pace than any of the Notts attack and got more out of the new ball as Notts collapsed to 52 for 4, with Slater, Clarke and Duckett all out to poor shots. A mature 63 from Lyndon James led the Notts recovery as he added 108 with skipper Steven Mullaney for the fifth wicket. Mullaney dropped on 49 at slip was still there at the close as he added an unbroken 54 for the sixth wicket with Tom Moores in the evening sunshine.

Play started on time on an overcast morning. The conditions were a lot better to bowl as the strong side wind had gone, but the pitch was to remain flat all day.

Fletcher and Hutton posed little threat in the early exchanges. In the 106th over, Clark got to his 100 off 185 balls with a quick single off Patterson-White. The following over, James who replaced Fletcher from the Cromwell End bowled Clark through the gate for 100 with his second ball, 332 for 7. Sussex reached 335 for 7 after 110 overs. Steve Finn (10) hooked James for six, but fell leg before attempting a sweep off Patterson-White, 353 for 8. It was third time lucky for Patterson-White as Finn  had survived two leg before shouts in his innings, Lenham (24) hooked Fletcher and Slater took a fine catch diving at long leg, 363 for 9. Patterson-White picked up his 5th wicket having Crocombe plumb leg before for 16. Sussex 375 all out. Patterson-White 45.1 8 84 5. Lunch was taken between the innings .

Finn bowled the opening over from the Cromwell Road End and then Crocombe took a wicket with his second delivery getting Slater (1) to play on, 1 for 1. Duckett pulled Crocombe for 6. Hameed (5) fell in the 7th over, caught behind by Carter off a lifting delivery from Finn, 19 for 2. In the 11th over, Clarke (6) was caught behind by Carter as Finn picked up his second victim., 39 for three. Haines replaced Crocombe for the following over from the Sea End. Finn after a seven over spell made way for Atkins as the floodlights came on. Duckett (31) with his foot cemented to the floor edged a wide one from Atkins as Alsop took the catch at first slip, 52 for 4. Crocombe came back into the attack for the 20th over. Mullaney hooked Atkins for 6 out of the ground. There was a double bowling change for the 24th and 25th over when Finn returned and Rawlins came on with his slow left armers. Notts went to tea on 94 for 4 off 32 overs with James on 26 and Mullaney on 20.

Atkins and Rawlins bowled immediately after the interval. Rawlins much less of a threat than Patterson-White. In the 39th over, Mullaney hooked Atkins for 6. James got to 50 with a back foot drive for four off Crocombe. Finn returned for the 49th over and James (63) top edged a pull shot and was caught by the running back keeper Carter, 160 for 5. James had hit nine fours in his 139 ball innings, once again showing a cool head in a crisis. Mullaney got to his 50 off 81 balls via a dropped slip catch by Alsop off Clark. With Finn now out of the attack, batting became a lot easier as Notts closed on 214 for 5 off 64 overs with Mullaney on 79 and Moores on 23.

It's hard to see how Notts could win this game from this position although they would hope to capitalise on the 16 overs before the new ball tomorrow morning. Former England man Steve Finn on his Sussex debut proved a handful with his pace and bounce and has so far picked up three wickets for 61. The Sussex support bowling has been fairly impotent, but the home side should be proud of how they have performed over the last two days, still possessing a huge lead. Young 17 year old leg spinner Archie Lenham, who looks much younger than his age was only given one over all day. MAG

Day 1

SUSSEX START STRONGLY

Last year's wooden spoonists Sussex had the best of the opening day of the 2022 championship season closing on 302 for 6 off 90 overs after being inserted by Notts at Hove. 

On a slow low wicket with a stiff crosswind it seemed a strange decision for Notts to elect to bowl and they failed to make any impression with either new ball. The four seamers Fletcher, Hutton, James and Evison never really looked like taking wickets and Liam Patterson-White had to a play virtual lone hand, being involved in all the first five wickets that fell.

Play commenced in bright sunshine as Fletcher (Cromwell Road) and Hutton (Sea End) opened the bowling. The Sussex left handed pair of Orr and Haines made steady progress to take Sussex to 35 for 0 off 9 overs when James replaced Hutton (4 0 21 0). Hutton changed ends after Fletcher's opening six overs went for 15. Hutton then injured himself diving at mid on trying to stop a drive off James, Evison therefore replaced him from the Cromwell Road End for the 13th over; Sussex reaching their 50 in the same over. Tom Haines got to a rapid 50 off 57 balls with an extra cover boundary off James. Patterson-White replaced James for the 22nd over. Fletcher returned from the Cromwell Road End as Sussex got to lunch on 101 for 0 off 31 overs with on Haines on 55 and Orr on 41. Haines had dominated the scoring in the first hour before Orr took advantage by taking more of the strike. Notts, with Hutton in particular, had struggled with the line as there was a strong westerly wind blowing straight across the wicket. The pitch was very reminiscent of those we saw at Cardiff and Bristol in 2017 when the home teams put out dead wickets to neuter the Notts attack. This may become a regular feature of 2022.

James and Patterson-White bowled in tandem after lunch and at 1358 Patterson-White bowled Haines for 59, 110 for 1 after 36 overs. In his next over, Patterson-White had Hampshire loanee Alsop leg before for 1, 114 for 2. Orr reached his 50 in 126 balls with a leg side single off James. Hutton replaced James from the Cromwell Road End and he dismissed Carter (14) who played a poor shot to be caught low at mid wicket by Patterson-White 137 for 3 in the 47th over. In the 60th over, Orr was caught by Mullaney to his left at slip edging a drive off Patterson-White for 68, 171 for 4. Sussex got to tea on 188 for 4 after 64 overs with Clark on 38 and Ibrahim on 2. A good session for Notts with Patterson-White bowling unchanged.

After tea, Clark played Patterson-White to the deep cover ropes where Hutton running round the ropes stopped the ball. Clark decided to go for three but non striker Ibrahim (15) was run out by a direct hit from Patterson-White after Hutton threw to the bowlers end and then an arrow like throw from the slow left armer hit the stumps, 214 for 5. The new ball was taken with Sussex on 229 for 5 off 80 overs. Patterson-White had bowled a marathon 30 over spell. The new ball was given to Fletcher and Hutton and sped off the bats of left handers Clark and Rawlins as the scoring rate accelerated. The sixth wicket partnership had added 87 in 21 overs before in the penultimate over Rawlins(49) dragged a ball from Mullaney on to his stumps. Patterson-White returned in the closing stages to finish with figures of 34 6 69 3. Clark 82 not out at the close.

Notts badly missed Dane Paterson and his ability to swing the old ball and also the extra pace of James Pattinson in a day which underlined that Notts promotion challenge will be not as easy as some supporters may think....

MAG

Secret Squirrel has released the names traveling to the south coast:

Haseeb Hameed
Ben Slater
Ben Duckett
Joe Clarke
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney C
Tommy Moores X
Liam Patterson-White
Joey Evison
Brett Hutton
Luke Fletcher
Calvin Harrison
Toby Pettman

The season starts proper on Thursday for Nottinghamshire at Hove. Hopes will be high in Notts-circles of promotion and they must be a nailed-on bookies favourite for the Division Two title, but of course cricket and life doesn't always run to plan.

Whilst the Notts side will be familiar, Sussex's will feature an array on new and returning faces added to a young squad; Fynn Hudson-Prentice returns from his impressive progress at Derbyshire, Steven Finn takes in some sea air and a change of scenery, George Burrows on a temping role will be looking to impress as will loanee from Hampshire Tom Alsop.

Traveling Nottinghamshire know that they will be without Stuart Broad, Jimmy Pattinson and Jake Ball when Secret Squirrel releases news of the squad.

Unlike last season, Dane Paterson has played some cricket over the winter, playing for Warriors in the all South African domestic formats, and has returned a 7-fer earlier this year; so a Fletch/Len/Dane attack looks likely; add Slats, Hass, Ducks and Clarkie, and you've already got the top and bottom order sorted. Bring in Captain Mull, keeper Tommy and Lyndon and LPW and you've got your eleven. The announced squad may include, Joey and Zak, although the Seconds do have a game at Loughborough and priorities must surely demand playing cricket at this stage of the season, rather than drink carrying.