Match report provided by the ECB Reporters Network.
An astonishing collapse by Sussex, who lost nine wickets for 97 runs, with their last six crashing down for just 12 runs, allowed Middlesex to glimpse victory in their LV = Insurance County Championship match at Hove.
Middlesex leg-spinner Luke Hollman took a career-best five for 65 on a flat pitch on which only six wickets had fallen in the opening seven sessions. Sussex, following on 357 runs behind, then lost Ali Orr, Ben Brown and Sean Hunt and closed on 88/3.
Sussex started the third day on 103 without loss, chasing a mind-boggling 527 just to avoid the follow-on. A more realistic survival target was to get into the final day with first-innings wickets in hand.
Fast bowler Blake Cullen broke through with the first ball of the second over of the day when he found the outside edge of Orr’s bat for keeper John Simpson to take the low catch in front of first slip. But after that Sussex had the better of the opening session and reached lunch on 217 for one with Tom Haines unbeaten on 109 – the fifth century of his career and the third of the season – and Brown 76 not out.
Brown, anxious to use his feet to counter the spin of Hollman, was stumped ten minutes after the break. But the real Sussex implosion started at 250 when George Garton, possibly a little giddy-headed in his No 4 position, swiped Hollman to deep midwicket. He looked so disappointed with his shot that he held his position at the crease for some moments before ripping off his gloves.
It wasn’t going to get any better for the home side. At 272 the very promising Danial Ibrahim skied Sam Robson to midwicket for just five. It was only leg-spinner Robson’s seventh first-class wicket having made his highest score (253) the day before.
Then Middlesex took the new ball and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who had hit a few pleasing drives, got one that lifted and left him from Tim Murtagh. At 308 Haines played a weary stroke and was caught behind off Murtagh, but not before he had reached 156, his highest first-class score, beating the 155 he made against Lancashire at Old Trafford at the start of the season.
Delray Rawlins was bowled for a duck having a heave and Jack Carson, Oli Carter and Henry Crocombe followed almost immediately.
Sussex
Middlesex
