Results - Sussex v Middlesex

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CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY FOUR

Match Result - Sussex win by 3 wickets

Sussex 22 points

Middlesex 3 points

Skipper Ben Brown made an unbeaten half-century to steer Sussex to a thrilling three-wicket victory over Middlesex as his side claimed their first win of the season in the Specsavers County Championship.

Four fluctuating days in which neither side held the ascendancy for too long ended with Ollie Robinson hitting James Harris to the long leg boundary to seal the win before he was embraced by his delighted captain.

Middlesex had taken four wickets for 15 runs before lunch to reduce Sussex to 128 for 6 but Brown and Michael Burgess put together a match-winning stand of 87, and although Burgess was dismissed for 22 the target was down to 15 runs and Sussex were on course for their first win under new Head Coach Jason Gillespie.

They had resumed on 35 for 2 in pursuit of a target of 230 and for the first hour on the final day Stiaan van Zyl and night-watchman Danny Briggs made comfortable progress, extending their third-wicket stand to 89 with Briggs looking comfortable against seam and spin, hitting James Harris for three fours in an over.

But on 39 he drove Ollie Rayner to short extra-cover and Middlesex sensed an opening. It was the first of four wickets in nine overs with Australian Hilton Cartwright picking up two from successive balls. Frustration got the better of van Zyl on 45 when he edged a delivery angled across him to slip and Cartwright took a low catch in his follow-through from Luke Wright’s checked drive off the next delivery.

Middlesex were favourites again when Harris came back for the last over before lunch and Harry Finch, who made a century in the first innings, played a poor shot outside off stump and was caught behind to leave his side still 102 runs away from victory.

But Brown found a staunch ally in Burgess after the interval and although Middlesex captain Dawid Malan rang the changes in an effort to get a break through – bringing himself on at one stage – the Sussex pair dug in and chipped away at the target.

Burgess offered a chance on 13 when Sam Robson at slip got a hand on a flying thick edge but couldn’t cling on.

The seventh wicket pair added 87 in 25 overs when Malan pinned Burgess in front for 22 but Brown clipped the first ball of the next over from Harris to the fine leg boundary to get the target down to single figures and was unbeaten on 65 from 92 balls with seven fours when Robinson pulled Harris for the winning runs

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LUNCH - DAY FOUR

Sussex 132 for 6

Middlesex took four wickets for 15 runs to revive their chances of beating Sussex at Hove.

Sussex were cruising towards their target of 230 when nightwatchman Danny Briggs and Stiaan van Zyl extended their third wicket stand to 89 with few alarms.

Briggs (39) drove Ollie Rayner to extra cover but it was Australian Hilton Cartwright to gave his side renewed hope with wickets from successive balls.

Van Zyl (45) edged a ball angled across him to slip and Luke Wright drove a return catch.

Then in the last over before lunch Harry Finch (11) wafted at a ball outside off stump from James Harris to give a simple catch to wicketkeeper John Simpson.

At lunch Sussex were 132 for 6, still needing 98 for victory.

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CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY THREE

Sussex - 35 for 2

A Middlesex batting collapse, in which they lost eight wickets for 79 runs, set up a potentially thrilling finish to their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Sussex at Hove.

Middlesex were bowled out for 322, with Danny Briggs and David Wiese both returning figures of four wickets for 70 runs, to set Sussex a challenging target of 230 to win on a pitch offering some assistance to both pace and spin. At the close of the third day Sussex were 35 for two, needing another 195.

Middlesex had resumed on 64 for two, still 29 runs behind. Dawid Malan and Nick Gubbins dominated the morning session and at lunch the score was 171 for two - 78 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand. Sussex had spurned their only chance when Ben Brown, diving in front of first slip, had spilled a difficult catch when Gubbins was on 35.

By mid-afternoon the match appeared to be slumbering in the warm sunshine. Malan (119) and Gubbins (107) had each scored commanding centuries and put on 234 for the third wicket. But then Briggs took three wickets in the space of five deliveries to inspire hopes of a first championship victory of the season for the home side.

Briggs and fellow spinner Luke Wells were bowling while Sussex ticked down the overs to the new ball. Briggs had Gubbins caught low down at short leg by Phil Salt. And the slow left-armer struck twice in his next over. He put himself on a hat-trick when Malan was stumped as he walked down the pitch and three balls later Hilton Cartwright edged to Harry Finch at first slip.

Shortly after tea, Middlesex lost three wickets in nine balls with the score on 303. John Simpson and Max Holden had added a crucial 58 for the sixth wicket when the former, attempting to drive a wide delivery from Wiese, chopped on to send his leg stump flying. In the next over Holden swept a legside delivery from Briggs onto his stumps and then James Harris was lbw to Wiese.

Middlesex were looking to Ollie Rayner and Tim Murtagh to strike some lusty blows. But Rayner, playing forward defensively, was beaten and bowled by Wiese and finally Tom Barber was run out after some neat fielding collaboration between Stiaan van Zyl and Finch on the boundary.

When Sussex batted in the long shadows of the final hour they soon lost Wells, who was caught in the slips off Harris for ten, and Salt was lbw to the same bowler for 12. Van Zyl had scored just one when he offered a difficult return catch to Murtagh, who put it down.

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TEA - DAY THREE

Middlesex - 280 for 5

The match between Sussex and Middlesex appeared to be dozing off in the mid-afternoon Hove sunshine when Danny Briggs took three wickets in the space of five deliveries to inspire hopes of a first championship victory of the season for the home side.

Briggs and fellow spinner Luke Wells were in charge of the bowling while Sussex ticked down the overs to the new ball. There seemed little likelihood of a breakthrough as Dawid Malan and Nick Gubbins each scored centuries and put on 234 for the third wicket.

But then Briggs had Gubbins caught low down at short leg by Phil Salt. And Briggs struck twice in his next over when first Malan was stumped as he walked down the wicket and then Hilton Cartwright edged to Harry Finch at first slip. Sussex took the new ball just before tea and gave it to slow left-armer Briggs. At the break Middlesex were 280 for five

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LUNCH - DAY THREE

Middlesex - 171 for 2

Dawid Malan and Nick Gubbins dominated the third morning of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match between Sussex and Middlesex at Hove on Sunday.

Middlesex didn’t lose a wicket in the sweltering morning session and reached lunch on 171 for two, wiping out their side’s 93-run first innings deficit and earning a lead of 78 with eight wickets in hand. At the interval Malan was unbeaten on 87, with Gubbins on 71, and their unbroken third wicket partnership was worth 162.

Middlesex had resumed on 64 for two, still 29 runs behind Sussex, with Malan 34 and Gubbins 22. Both batsmen were in commanding form, Malan square-driving David Wiese to reach his fifty. But Sussex did miss the one chance they were given when Gubbins, on 35, was dropped behind by Ben Brown, who had dived in front of first slip in his effort to take the catch.

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CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY TWO

Middlesex - 64 for 2

Harry Finch’s maiden County Championship hundred put Sussex in a good position against Middlesex after an absorbing second day at Hove.

The 23-year-old from Hastings scored 103 as Sussex recovered from 127 for 6 to 323 in response to Middlesex’s 230.

A first-innings lead of 93 could prove crucial on a pitch which continued to provide assistance for the bowlers and Sussex’s position looked even better when Ollie Robinson took his eighth wicket of the match and David Wiese struck five balls later to reduce Middlesex to 9 for 2.

But skipper Dawid Malan and Nick Gubbins battened down the hatches, taking their team to to 64 for 2 at stumps.

Sussex had resumed on 60 for 4 but Finch shared important stands of 77 with night-watchman Danny Briggs and then 96 with Michael Burgess before he was eighth out with the total on 242.

Australian Hilton Cartwright pinned Briggs in his first over for 23 and then took out Ben Brown’s off stump before ending the Finch-Burgess alliance shortly after lunch courtesy of a brilliant reflex catch by Sam Robson at first slip. Ollie Rayner at second slip had parried a thick edge from Burgess into the air and Robson dived to take a one-handed catch from the rebound.

Burgess struck the ball nicely through the off side in his 45 while at the other end Finch relied on steady accumulation although he did go on the attack when he pulled Tom Barber for six to reach his fifty.

His century came up with a boundary off Ollie Rayner, the off-spinner, and he had faced 201 balls, with 13 fours, when he was out to a ball from James Harris which was virtually impossible to defend as it nipped back and kept horribly low.

Sussex’s lead was only 12 runs at that stage but Robinson, who had taken 7 for 58 on the first day, enhanced his all-rounder credentials with a rumbustious innings of 52 from 57 balls which included six fours.

It enabled the last two wickets to put on 81 precious runs with last man George Garton contributing a career-best 22 not out including a six to get off the mark.

James Harris picked up the last three wickets to finish with 5 for 86 but Sussex had momentum and they carried it into Middlesex’s second innings.

Briggs pulled off a smart catch at mid-wicket to remove Sam Robson (4) in the second over then Steve Eskanazi feathered an edge off Wiese in the next.

But Malan and Gubbins batted carefully through the remaining 18 overs of the day and will resume tomorrow 29 runs in arrears

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TEA - DAY TWO

Sussex - 323 for 9

Harry Finch made his maiden Championship hundred to help put Sussex in a good position against Middlesex on the second day at Hove.

Finch scored a fine 103, his third first-class hundred, and reached the landmark with his 13th boundary, a pull off off-spinner Ollie Rayner.

He was out shortly afterwards, lbw to a ball from James Harris which kept low after facing 201 balls.

Harris then picked up his fourth wicket when David Wiese (16) edged behind but Middlesex were frustrated by a last-wicket stand of 53 between Ollie Robinson, who reached a 55-ball half-century just before tea, and George Garton, whose 22 not out was a career-best. At the interval Sussex were 323 for 9, lead of 93.

Earlier, Finch and Michael Burgess (45) had shared 94 for the seventh wicket before Burgess became Hilton Cartwright's third victim.

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LUNCH - DAY TWO

Sussex - 154 for 6

Harry Finch led Sussex's fightback with an unbeaten half-century on the second day of their Championship match against Middlesex at Hove.

Sussex had resumed on 60 for 4 in reply to Middlesex's 230 and although Australian Hilton Cartwright took two wickets, Sussex would have been more pleased with their morning's work as they reached lunch on 153 for 6.

The odd ball continued to misbehave and timing shots was difficult, but Finch looked solid in his unbeaten 67. He reached his first half-century of the season with a pulled six off Tom Barber to add to nine fours.

Finch and nightwatchman Danny Briggs had put on 56 in 17 overs for the fifth wicket without too many alarms when Cartwright broke through in his first over, Briggs (23) falling lbw to a ball which kept a touch low.

Ben Brown (7) lost his off stump to Cartwright but Michael Burgess (16*) joined Finch to see Sussex through to lunch, still 77 behind.

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CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY ONE

Sussex - 60 for 4

Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson produced championship best figures of seven for 58 as Middlesex were bowled out for 230 at Hove on Friday.

It was the second time this season that Robinson had taken seven wickets in an innings – last month he enjoyed a career-best return of seven for 23 against Loughborough MCC University on the same ground.

But Middlesex hit back when Tim Murtagh took two wickets in successive overs to leave Sussex five for two in the fifth over. And then James Harris also struck twice to leave the match in the balance with Sussex 60 for four at the close.

Middlesex had won the toss before this Specsavers County Championship Division Two match but their batsmen were made to work hard against a spirited attack on a lively pitch. At lunch they were 81 for five before a damage-limiting unbeaten 84 from former England Under-19 captain Max Holden gave their bowlers something to work with in a compelling day’s cricket.

Robinson broke through in the fifth over when he removed Nick Gubbins’ middle stump as the batsman played all round a straight one. Gubbins was playing his first match of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Robinson dismissed the other opener, Sam Robson, in his next over, as the batsman nibbled at a fine delivery that moved away from him.

Sussex missed their first chance when Stevie Eskinazi, on 28, was dropped by Phil Salt at backward point off George Garton. Eskinazi had added ten runs before he was dropped again, this time in the slips off Robinson.

Sussex put down their third catch when Hilton Cartwright, on two, was dropped behind, a difficult diving attempt to the wicketkeeper’s left off David Wiese.

But Eskinazi failed to make the most of his second escape. He had not added to his score when he was lbw to Robinson and the same bowler had Cartwright caught in the slips for four. Then, just before lunch, Robinson had Dawid Malan lbw for 13.

After the interval Holden and John Simpson added 56 in 18 overs for the sixth wicket before Simpson was caught on the deep midwicket boundary off Danny Briggs. It was soon 135 for seven when Harris was caught at point off the same bowler for a single. Ollie Rayner was then lbw, half-forward, to give Robinson his sixth wicket.

That left Middlesex in a very ordinary position at 169 for eight. But Holden, dropped on 28, found late order support from Murtagh and the pair put on 51 for the ninth wicket. Murtagh finally played a poor stroke and was caught by Luke Wright at mid-off. Robison completed his demolition work when he plucked out Tom Barber’s off stump to leave Holden stranded.

But Middlesex fought back valiantly. Murtagh had Luke Wells and Salt well caught in the slips before Harris struck. First, he had Stiaan van Zyl caught by Eskinazi at third slip and then he bowled Luke Wright, shouldering arms, for nine.

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TEA - DAY ONE

Middlesex 205 for 8

Former England Under-19 captain Max Holden underlined his rich potential with his first championship fifty for Middlesex against Sussex at Hove on Friday.

A spirited bowling performance by Sussex had dominated the morning after Middlesex had chosen to bat. Middlesex hobbled to lunch on 81 for five, with seamer Ollie Robinson taking all the wickets. But Holden, 20, who made his first-class debut on loan to Northants last year, led the resistance in the afternoon with an unbeaten 69, though he was dropped at slip by Harry Finch on 28.

Holden and John Simpson added 56 in 18 overs for the sixth wicket before Simpson was caught on the deep midwicket boundary off Danny Briggs. That became 135 for seven when James Harris was caught at point off the same bowler for a single, and Ollie Rayner was soon lbw, half-forward, to give Robinson his sixth wicket. But Holden hit six fours in his 77-ball half century, three of them in one Briggs over

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LUNCH - DAY ONE

Middlesex 81 for 5

Ollie Robinson took five Middlesex wickets for 33 runs for Sussex in the opening session of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match at Hove. Sussex dropped three catches but they did not prove expensive after Middlesex had chosen to bat on a lively pitch.

Robinson broke through in the fifth over when he removed Nick Gubbins’ middle stump as the batsman played a crooked shot to leg. Gubbins (8) was playing his first match of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Robinson dismissed the other opener, Sam Robson (10), in his next over, having the batsman caught behind to one that moved away.

Sussex put down their third catch when Hilton Cartwright, on two, was dropped behind, a difficult diving attempt to the wicketkeeper’s left off David Wiese.

But Eskinazi failed to profit from his second reprieve. He had not added to his score when he was lbw to Robinson and the same bowler had Cartwright caught in the slips for four. Finally, Robinson had Dawid Malan lbw for 13.

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