Sussex Rothesay County Championship Div 1 at Hove Loss 3 pts Report

 

18/09

CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES RUN AGROUND!

At 13:33 this afternoon, Sussex cruised to an easy seven wicket over Notts.

Notts batted for 15.5 overs this morning. Karvelas claimed his fifth victim when he dismissed Hutton for a 16 ball duck caught by Clark diving to his left at second slip, 150 for 8 after 55 overs. Carson (27) came on from the Sea End and with his second delivery had Hay (27) lbw; 176 for 9 in the 64th over. Giles was dropped on 11 by Clark running back from second slip off Unadkat in the 85th over. Later in the same over, Kumar was also dropped on 5 at first slip by Tear, grasping for the ball above his head. Giles (14) soon fell however, lbw to Carson. Notts 193 all out off 67.5 overs. Kumar 11 not out. Karvelas 5 for 42.

Sussex required 76 off 78 overs. Stone (Cromwell Road End) and Hutton shared the new ball. In the 3rd over, Haines (8) shouldered arms to Stone and was bowled middle stump, 13 for 1. In the following over, Clark was lbw to Hutton, 14 for 2. Stone conceded 10 off the 5th over including two boundaries for Thomas. Stone went for 11 off the last over before the interval. Lunch was taken with Sussex 48 for 2 off 11 overs with Thomas on 26 and Tear on 14.

Patterson-White bowled the first over after lunch. Kumar replaced Stone and with his first delivery removed Tear's (15) off stump with a delivery that kept low, 49 for 3 in the 13th over. Thomas hit Patterson-White for six over long off, eight off the 16th over. Kumar, who had a disappointing match, dropped a sitter at backward square leg off Patterson-White when Carter on 9 , the batsmen running two. Four balls later, a four through point by Carter off the slow left armer took Sussex home. Sussex 76 for 3 off 18 overs with Thomas on 38 and Carter on 13.

It was Notts second loss of the season and the first away from Trent Bridge since losing at Durham in May last season. Pennington who got injured the day before the fixture was badly missed, as his extra bounce would have proved challenging from the Cromwell Road End throughout this match.


Notts only took three points for the fixture and are now third in the table, 15 points behind leaders Warwickshire. The retaining of the championship now only a remote possibility. MAG

Some positives to take from this round:

• Somerset lost
• Leicestershire have reacted favourably to their pitch points penalty, so might not just rollover tamely, unlike Warwickshire's more recent opponents (Glamorgan and Essex), in the final round of the season.
• Hampshire are relegated

17/09

NOTTS' CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE HITS THE ROCKS

A combination of disciplined Sussex bowling and some pretty mediocre Notts batting meant that by close of Day 3 at Hove, Notts' championship challenge is all but dead. Notts having a slender lead of 31 with three second innings wickets standing.

 

After morning rain, play commenced at 13:30 with 35.1 overs lost out of the 101 over day.

 

Notts had a good first hour claiming full bowling points with Sussex adding 50 runs and losing their last four wickets in 12.3 overs.

 

Kumar and Stone were bowling and the former was the more disappointing conceding eight in the 100th over and 13 in the 102nd over, two fours for Carson and one four for Price.

 

Hutton replaced Kumar from the Sea End for the 106th over with Carson reaching his 50 off 82 balls with a four. Sussex though collapsed losing their last four wickets for 8 runs in four overs.

 

Price (72) was caught at first slip by McCann off Stone,  350 for 7 in the 107th over. Carson (53) got a leading edge off Hutton and was caught low down in the covers by Haynes, 352 for 8 in the 108th over. Notts got their last bowling point off the last eligible delivery,  Karvelas (2) being caught low at mid wicket by Hameed off Hutton, 357 for 9 off 110 overs. Two balls later, Patterson-White, who had just replaced Stone, bowled Unadkat who got a golden duck with a big turning delivery. Sussex 358 all out off 110.2 overs with Hunt 5 not out. Hutton 4 for 59 and Stone 3 for 81. Sussex led by 118 runs after the first innings.

 

Notts had 52 overs to bat and Unadkat with Hunt sharing the new ball. With Somerset faltering, there were big hopes of Notts salvaging a draw on an easing pitch. Unfortunately the top three once more failed to set a stable platform.

 

Notts got off to a comfortable start in bright sunshine.

With Notts 20 for 0 off 6 overs Karvelas replaced Unadkat from the Cromwell Road End. The Indian immediately changing ends. From this point it went steadily downhill from a Notts perspective.

 

Karvelas got a delivery to lift alarmingly, Slater (16) edging it to keeper Simpson, 37 for 1 in the 11th over. A near unplayable delivery. Carson bowled the last over before tea. Notts 50 for 1 off 16 overs at the interval and Hameed on 23 and McCann on 6. 

 

Hameed was dropped on 23 by Thomas at backward point off Hunt in the 19th over. But the captain failed to cash in on his good fortune.

 

Karvelas replaced Hunt for the 27th over.  Notts were to collapse spectacularly losing six wickets for 62 in 22 overs.

 

Hameed (43) guided Karvelas to Clark at second slip, 86 for 2 in the 29th over. A dreadful shot. Clarke was caught at second slip by Clark off Karvelas,  90 for 3 in the 31st over. Carson came back for the 34th over. A poor shot from McCann (23), without any foot movement, saw him caught behind by Simpson off a wide delivery from Karvelas, 117 for 4. McCann's innings was very scratchy and lacked any real confidence. All four wickets to Karvelas. Not bad for a bowler released by Sussex at the end of last season and signed in an emergency last month before he heads into teaching. Carson came back for the 44th over.

 

Unadkat replaced Karvelas and with his first ball, a short loosener, was hit by Haynes (37) straight to Carson at backward point, 142 for 5 in the 47th over. The third Notts batsmen to literally throw his wicket away. Notts were going down with little sign of any fight.

 

It got even worse. Nightwatchman Stone was comprehensively bowled by Unadkat for a seven ball duck; 142 for 6 in the 49th over. Despite the clear blue skies the umpires checked the light with the sun setting but play continued. Patterson-White (5) inside edged Unadkat with Simpson brilliantly catching him low to his right,  148 for 7 in the 51st over. Sussex heading for a very much deserved victory.

 

Stumps were drawn at 18:33 with Notts 149 for 7 off 52 with Hay on 11 and Hutton on 0. All seven wickets had fallen from the Cromwell Road End with Karvelas taking 4 for 34 and Unadkat 3 for 39.

 

With a patched up team, a top three not firing and a testing fixture list which saw them on the road throughout August, have Notts simply run out of steam?

MAG

The "Independent" Cricket Regulator has certainly helped Notts' rivals in its timing of announcements during the process of investigating and the punishing of Leicestershire:

• the initial announcement led to Leicestershire crumbling against Somerset last week
• the news yesterday will have what reaction next week against Warwickshire from the Leicester players?

The CR has also timed its announcent in such a way that Hampshire might maximise today in their fixture against the Foxes (depending on the Leicestershire players' reaction), dragging Essex into the relegation equation next week.

Essex: in freefall

Surrey: lost the plot

Leicestershire: demoralised or fighting? We will discover today and over the weekend perhaps!

Next week: Som v Surrey / Warwick v Leicester

16/09

Day 2

CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE EBBING

The second day at Hove was a very frustrating one for Notts. Sussex took advantage of an easing pitch against some indifferent bowling and fielding. Sussex lead by 68 runs with four first innings wickets standing. More importantly Warwickshire thrashed Essex and Somerset are favourites to beat Yorkshire meaning unless Notts win this game the chances of retaining the championship will be somewhat remote.

 

 

Notts innings lasted 10 balls this morning. Hutton (60) mistiming a drive off Unadkat (Cromwell Road End) to be caught at cover by Thomas. Notts 240 all out off 84.4 overs with Kumar 7 not out. Unadkat 4 for 83.

 

Stone (Cromwell Road End) and Kumar shared the new ball. In the 4th over, Haines cover drove Hutton for successive boundaries. In the ninth over, Haines (13) was caught low down at square leg by Slater off Stone, 25 for 1. Kumar bowled 5 1 12 0 in his initial spell for Notts being replaced by Giles. Kumar though put in an uninspiring performance throughout the day lacking pace and menace. A strange decision to recruit him when Mohammad Ali was available for the last two games.

 

Hutton came on for the 13th over. Thomas (16) was lbw to Giles, 35 for 2 in the 14th over. Giles proved expensive though, his first five overs going for 29. Kumar replaced him from the Sea End. Patterson-White was introduced for the 23rd over. Sussex 87 for 2 off 26 overs at lunch with Clark on 43 and Tear on 13. It was clear that the pitch was easing but the Notts bowling was more wayward compared to Sussex's disciplined line and length on Day 1.

 

Stone and Patterson-White were bowling after lunch. Sussex reached 100 in the 29th over via an edged four through the vacant third slip position by Tear off Stone. To rub salt in the wounds Tear then drove Stone to the boundary off the next delivery. Clark reached 50 off 73 balls with a swept legside four off Patterson-White. Kumar replaced Stone for the 37th over. In the third over of his spell Kumar bowled two awful wide balls to Tear who hit them both for offside boundaries.

 

 

Hutton came on for the 43rd over. Giles came on for Patterson-White for the 44th over. Clark was really finding his form hitting Hutton for two fours in the 45th over. Next over, Clark hit Giles for six over square leg. In the 47th over, Clark (89 off 121 balls, 11x4, 1x6) played on to a wide long hop from Hutton, 167 for 3. A certain ton thrown away, it took Clark a long time to leave the field after such a reckless dismissal. The 3rd wicket partnership between Clark and Tear had added 132 in 33 overs.

 

Patterson-White replaced Giles for the 50th over. Stone returned for the 53rd over. Stone got Carter, caught by Clarke at square leg off a low full toss, 185 for 4 in the 55th over. Tear got to his 50 off 102 balls with a single off Patterson-White in the 58th over. At tea Sussex were 198 for 4 off 59 overs with Tear on 50 and Simpson on 12.

 

Kumar came back straight after tea which enabled Patterson-White to immediately change to the Cromwell Road End. The slow left armer got one to turn from leg with his fifth delivery and it bowled Tear for 50, 198 for 5 in the 61st over. The ball of the day!

 

Notts though were then frustrated by 6th wicket stand of 60 off 21 overs between Simpson and Price.

 

Simpson hit Patterson-White for six over extra cover in the 63rd over. Giles replaced Kumar for the 68th over. Sussex took the lead in the 78th over. In the following over Simpson on 31 had a let off when Hay missed a stumping chance off Patterson-White, the ball going for four byes.

 

 Hutton replaced Giles for the 80th over. In his second over of his new spell, Hutton removed Simpson's (34) off stump, 256 for 6 in the 82nd over. Sussex led by 16. However Price and Carson stayed put until the close adding 50 in 16 overs.

 

The new ball was belatedly taken by Hutton and Stone with Sussex on 276 for 6 off 89 overs. Kumar replaced Hutton for the 92nd over. An edged four by Price off Stone took him to 50 off 106 balls in the 97th over, the over going for 13 with both batsmen hitting further boundaries. Carson was dropped on 27, a sitter to Hay off Kumar in the 98th over.

 

Bad light stopped play at 18:24 with 13 balls remaining in the day. Sussex closing on 308 for 6 on 97.5 overs with Price on 56 and Carson on 27. Patterson-White had kept an end up and Stone had bowled his heart out, but the support bowling lacked venom.

 

Very much Sussex, Warwickshire and Somerset's day. With rain forecast for tomorrow morning, Notts have it all on to conjure up a victory from the overnight position. MAG

 

15/09

Day 1

HUTTON SHORES-UP NOTTS INNINGS

74 run ninth wicket stand with Tom Giles salvages Champions' first day at Hove

On a rain truncated first day at Hove, Notts closed on 232 for 9 off 83 overs.


Sussex won the toss and elected to bowl, Hameed losing his sixth toss in a row. It appeared to be a bad toss to lose with the ball jagging around most of the day on a low and slow seaming pitch. Sussex were missing Crocombe and Coles on England white ball duty,

Mukesh Kumar, making his Notts debut, came in to replace Fraser Sheat in the overseas bowler slot. Pennington who has come down with a hamstring injury was replaced by Brett Hutton.

The two left hand seamers Unadkat (Cromwell Road End) and Hunt opened the bowling. Despite some playing and missing from Hameed and Slater, Notts had raced to 31 for 0 off 7 overs when Tom Price replaced Hunt from the Sea End. Karvelas came on for the 11th over. Hameed (31), with his bat away from his body was caught at first slip by Tear off Price, 47 for 1 off 14 overs. A cover driven boundary by McCann off Price took Notts passed 50 in the 18th over. This was McCann's sole scoring shot of his innings as both him and Slater became becalmed. Sussex skipper Tom Haines came on from the Sea End for a single over, the 20th. He then immediately replaced himself with off spinner Jack Carson. Hunt returned, this time from the Cromwell Road End, for the 23rd over. He ended Slater's (21) scratchy innings having him caught at second slip by Clark, 59 for 2 in the 23rd over. The bowling changes continued with Unadkat reappearing for the 24th over. McCann (4) tortuous 36 ball innings ended when he edged Unadkat to keeper Simpson, 65 for 3 in the 26th over. The top three failing once more. Rain stopped play at 12:24 and an early lunch was taken with Notts 69 for 3 off 27 overs with Clarke on 7 and Haynes on 3.

Play recommenced at 14:24 with 13 overs lost. Clarke and Haynes had added 36 when Haynes (18) was caught at second slip by Clark off Unadkat. Haynes edging the ball onto his pads and the ball deflecting to the corden; 101 for 4 in the 34th over. Despite the sun now breaking through Notts continued to struggle. Hay was dropped on 1 low at first slip by Tear off Karvelas in the 35th over. Tom Price came back for the 40th over. Clarke (36) drove Karvelas straight to Carter at cover, 117 for 5 in the 41st over. A disappointing shot. Hay (2) was caught at first slip by Tear off Price, 121 for 6 in the 44th over. Carson returned for the 50th over. Notts 137 for 6 off 52 overs at tea with Patterson-White on 14 and Hutton on 6.

Patterson-White (14) was caught at second slip by Tear off Hunt, who returned from the Cromwell Road End straight after tea, 141 for 7 in the 55th over. Notts woes continued when Stone (4) played on to Unadkat; 150 for 8 in the 58th over. Then completely unexpectedly Hutton and novice Giles added 74 for the 9th wicket in 24 overs. Initially Hutton protected Giles from the strike but then as Giles confidence grew, Hutton was happy to take singles. Hutton scored successive boundaries off Hunt in the 61st over, a beautiful cover drive was followed by an on driven four.

Karvelas returned for the 63rd over. Giles hit Karvelas for six over square leg in the 67th over, the sole six of the day. Batting appeared to be getting easier against the older ball, in what was now bright sunshine. Carson came back for the 68th over. Price came on for the 71st over with a four through point by Giles bringing up the 50 partnership and the Notts 200.


The new ball was taken with Notts 222 for 8 off 80 overs and three overs left in the day. A single for Hutton off Unadkat brought him his 50 off 112 balls in the 81st over. Giles (32) was bowled by a Price delivery that kept low, 224 for 9 in the 82nd over. Hutton hit the last two balls of the day from Unadkat for four, the first a legside pull and the second through backward point. Stumps were drawn at 18:41 with clear blue sky overhead with Notts 232 for 9 off 83 overs with Hutton on 59 and Kumar on 0. Honours even after Notts had been inserted.

Tomorrow will be a long 104 over day. The championship very much still to play for. Come on Notts! MAG

14/09

Pravda's idea of a 13 man squad

Haseeb Hameed c

Ben Slater

Ben Martindale

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Mitch Hay o x

Liam Patterson-White

Brett Hutton

Farhan Ahmed

Olly Stone

Dillon Pennington

Mukesh Kumar o

Mohammad Ali o

Tom Giles

Has Mr Newell lost his nerve with Fraser Sheat*, 5 wickets at 40, not giving the return he'd like from an overseas player?

Hence the signing of Indian Test Player of three years ago, Mukesh Kumar...

We will see.

Pravda:

*short term stint comes to a close

.........................................................................

We've reached the stage of the season where it's wins that matter and the bagging of more bonus points than our two rivals in the three horse race...

To pick our strongest eleven you have to decide who's in our fittest eleven!

Huge question marks sit over: Ben Slater, Brett Hutton and Lyndon James, all of which would be included in our strongest eleven, if fully fit.

The Second XI start a friendly today at the Lady Bay ground, the starting eleven there will at least give us a clue as to who isn't making the journey south.

Update: Sam Seecharan and Lyndon James are listed to play in the delayed start at Lady Bay

Mohammad Ali is still registered as a Notts player, but is his head frazzled from all the Pakistan mayhem?