DAY THREE - CLOSE OF PLAY
SUSSEX 188 a/o & 295/7
MIDDLESEX 177 a/o & 282 a/o
Resuming on 193/4 Sussex continued to add runs to the scoreboard thanks to a 50 run partnership between between Beer and Hains before the former was caught by Holden off the bowling of Andersson. Despite this, the hosts continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, before a mix up at the crease led to Hains being run out after a superb knock of 105. A a useful seventh wicket partnership of 40 runs between Goodwin and Oxley further strengthened the innings before Sussex decided to declare on 295/7.
In reply, with Lace and Holden at the crease Middlesex got off to a superb start, as the pair forged a 109 run partnership, before the former was dismissed for 76. With Scott the new man at the crease, another useful partnership of 44 runs followed before Lace was caught by Beer off the bowling of Rawlins, leaving Middlesex on 153/2. A devastating spell of bowling from Sakande severely dented the visitors innings as the bowler dismissed Scott, White and Perera with just 13 runs added to the score. With Middlesex on 189/6, a superb 87 run partnership between Walallawita and Andersson helped strengthen the visitors innings, before the former was dismissed for an impressive 44. Middlesex's tail end struggled thereafter, with the last 3 wickets falling for just 6 runs, as Sussex ran out winners by 24 runs.
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DAY TWO
SUSSEX 188 a/o & 193/4
MIDDLESEX 177 a/o
Resuming on 129/8 and with Sakande and Goodwin at the crease, the pair were able to forge an impressive 58 run partnership, before Sakande was caught by White off the bowling of Andersson. A useful 36 run ninth wicket partnership between Barton and Goodwin was much needed for the hosts, before the former was caught by the the excellent White (taking his 7th catch of the innings) off the bowling of Andersson, as Sussex were eventually bowled out for 188.
In reply, Middlesex got off to a shaky start as Lace was dismissed with just 13 runs on the scoreboard. Things got worse for Middlesex as the new man at the crease, Scott, was sent back to the pavilion for a duck in the next delivery. A useful 42 run partnership between Holden and White somewhat stabilised the innings for the visitors, before the former was caught by Rawlins off the bowling of Barton. With Middlesex struggling on 83/5, a decent 36 run partnership between Andersson and Sowter kept the scoreboard ticking for the visitors, before Andersson was dismissed by Garton. A further 2 wickets fell for Middlesex shortly after, as the visitors wer reduced to 126/8. Late innings partnerships were able to add to the score late on, although the visitors were eventually bowled out for 177.
In response, with Rawlins and Hains at the crease the pair were able to forge a 55 run partnership before the former was caught by Sowter off the bowling of Barber. With Finch the new man at the crease, another useful parternship of 51 strengthened the hosts innings, before the batsman was bowled by Andersson. Sussex were able to keep the scoreboard ticking on Day 2, and despite Patel picking up 2 wickets later in the day, the hosts closed on 193/4.
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DAY ONE - CLOSE OF PLAY
SUSSEX 129/8
With adverse weather pushing the start time back by 30 minutes, Middlesex eventually won the toss and elected to bowl against Sussex at Blackstone CC. The hosts started well with openers Rawlins and Hains forging a 21 run partnership, before the former was caught by Perera off the bowling of Barber. Finch, the new man at the crease came and went for a duck before Hains and Burgess were dismissed by Bamber in the 7th over to leave Sussex on 25/4. With Salt and Garton the new batsmen at the crease, the pair were able to put on a decent 22 run partnership to keep the scoreboard ticking before Bamber picked up his third wicket of the day as Salt was sent back to the pavilion for 12. Andersson was soon in on the action as he dismissed Garton for 16 as Sussex went into Lunch on 72/6. Things didn't get much better for Sussex after the interval as the hosts lost a further 2 wickets within the space of 1 run as they slumped to 94/8. Rain eventually halted play with Sussex closing on 129/8 at the end of Day Two.
