September 10, 2024

Unadkat’s Four Wickets and Hughes’ Fifty Give Sussex Firm Control

Sussex, the leaders in Division Two of the Vitality County Championship, took control at Hove after bowling Glamorgan out for 186 in 57.3 overs. Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat led the way with an impressive 4 for 52. Sussex, aiming for their seventh win of the season to secure promotion to Division One, dominated the day’s play.

Glamorgan, seeking just their second win and their first at Hove since 1975, struggled in the field as Sussex’s openers, Tom Haines (48) and Daniel Hughes (57*) put together a 110-run partnership. Sussex ended the day at 121 for 1, just 65 runs behind with nine wickets in hand, missing Glamorgan’s rested bowler Timm van der Gugten.

With the third delivery of his opening over, Unadkat had Asa Tribe caught by Hughes at short leg. Tribe, playing only his second first-class game, had faced just five deliveries. Unadkat made another breakthrough in his third over when he knocked back Sam Northeast’s middle stump via the inside edge. This dented Northeast’s away batting average of over a hundred runs per inning for the season.

Ingram Falls as Glamorgan Struggles at 70 After Crocombe’s Sharp Delivery

Glamorgan, who welcomed back James Harris and Ben Kellaway, faced trouble at 70 for 3 in the 20th over. After surviving Ollie Robinson’s potent opening spell with a mix of skill and luck, Colin Ingram played forward defensively. Still, he lost his middle stump to a sharp delivery from Henry Crocombe. In Crocombe’s next over, Tom Clark caught Billy Root at second slip, leaving Glamorgan at 91 for 4 by lunch, with Kiran Carlson fighting on 48. Despite Robinson’s wicketless nine-over opening spell, he and Jaydev Unadkat consistently bowled from the downhill Cromwell Road End.

After the break, part-time medium-pacer Tom Clark made an impact, striking twice in three balls. Kellaway gloved one down the leg, and Carlson, who made 56 from 81 balls with eight fours, was caught behind. Glamorgan then lost Chris Cooke, bowled by Robinson for 135, and seemed set for a quick collapse. However, a 16-over partnership between Dan Douthwaite and Harris added 49 runs. Douthwaite, looking ready to attack, was caught behind immediately after. Unadkat dismissed Andy Gorvin four balls later, also caught behind, marking John Simpson’s fourth catch. Jack Carson bowled Harris, and Glamorgan’s last three wickets fell for just two runs.

When Sussex began their innings, Tom Haines nearly dragged the ball onto his stumps early. At the same time, Billy Root dropped Daniel Hughes at deep-backward square leg off Ned Leonard’s bowling when he was on just 8. Both batters capitalized on these chances, frustrating the Glamorgan bowlers with solid partnerships. Haines was eventually dismissed just before the end of play. Earlier in the day, Sussex celebrated by awarding county caps to James Coles and Daniel Hughes during the lunch break.

Raine’s Four Wickets Deepen Lancashire’s Relegation Fears

Ben Raine capitalized on bowler-friendly conditions to leave Lancashire struggling at 177 for 6 after 78 overs on a rain-affected first day of the Vitality County Championship at the Riverside. Raine’s impressive figures of 4 for 23 from 18 overs deepened Lancashire’s relegation fears.

Matty Hurst fought back despite the challenging conditions with a resilient 74*. Josh Bohannon contributed 49, helping Lancashire avoid a complete collapse. Matthew Potts provided strong support with 2 for 36, while Chemar Holder had a difficult debut for Durham, going wicketless with 0 for 53. Rain delayed the start until 12:50, and Durham skipper Scott Borthwick chose to bowl first.

Bohannon Punishes Holder as Iyer Falls for 7

Lancashire’s first innings got off to a rough start, reflecting their recent poor form. Ben Raine struck immediately, with Luke Wells caught behind by Ollie Robinson off the first ball. Raine then bowled Keaton Jennings with a superb delivery that nipped away, dismissing him for 9 in the ninth over.

Josh Bohannon took advantage of some loose bowling from Chemar Holder but soon lost his partner Venkatesh Iyer, who was caught behind off Matthew Potts for 7, leaving Lancashire at 49 for 3. Matty Hurst struggled early, taking 36 minutes and 26 balls to score his first run. Bohannon had some close calls, edging Potts between the keeper and slip and surviving a strong appeal off Raine. However, he eventually fell for 49, edging Raine to Robinson for his third wicket.

Lancashire reached tea at 96 for 4 but quickly lost George Bell for 7, who pulled a Matthew Potts delivery straight to Chemar Holder at midwicket.

Matty Hurst brought up his fourth Championship fifty off 88 balls, hitting seven fours and a six. However, Lancashire lost their sixth wicket when George Balderson edged a drive off Ben Raine to Colin Ackermann at second slip for 10. Hurst and Tom Hartley then batted sensibly, adding an unbroken 39 runs in 25 overs, preventing further damage before the close. Despite their efforts, Lancashire still needed 73 runs to earn their first batting point since July 1.