Essex vs SUSSEX @ Colchester Day 2

[Lord Bracknell]

Sussex 612
Essex 283 & 23/0 (7 ov) (following on)

Essex trail by 306 runs with 10 wickets remaining

Stumps



Being pessimistic - for no reason whatsoever - I reckon that the worst case scenario is that Essex score more than 550 in their second innings. Which would put the pressure on us in our second innings.

Have we got the batsman who are capable of scoring 250-odd runs at seven or eight runs an over to get the victory?

Err... yes.

 

[Beach Hut]

Good day again for the boys - get in there son

 

[Marshy]

mmmm in the bag springs to mind.

 

[Simster]

We're going to be f***ing champions for the first time ever. This is a golden age in Sussex sport. Kirtley is number 1 fast bowler in this country, Sussex are about to land the county championship for the first time ever and Albion are going to win their third shiny pot in 4 seasons on the back of the goals of a pocket genius.

 

[Trigger]

Makes u proud eh Simster?

*another shiver tingles through my back*

 

[Trigger]

As it stands at the end of today with all bonus points gained so far from the current round of matches included...

Pos County Pld Pts

01. Sussex 12 195 (won more games so are top)
02. Surrey 12 195
03. Kent 13 151
04. Lancashire 11 150
05. Middlesex 12 137
06. Warwickshire 12 122½
07. Essex 12 109
08. Leicestershire 12 88½
09. Nottinghamshire 12 87

 

[Trigger]

Jason Lewry £120 richer, this is a crackin idea, see bold type...

Sussex are poised to maintain their title challenge with victory over Essex in the Frizzell County Championship Division One match at Colchester.

It would seem only the intervention of rain can deny them an eighth championship win of the season after they bowled out their opponents for 283 and forced them to follow on 329 behind, seeing them on 23 without loss in their second innings.

After Sussex had carried their overnight total to 612, their highest ever against Essex, they made steady inroads into the home innings after ending an opening century stand involving Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson.

That partnership was worth 102 before Jefferson swept into the hands of short midwicket after making 55.

Robinson, having made 64, was caught at slip trying to guide the ball to third man while Aftab Habib followed next ball when he padded up to a googly.

All three wickets fell to Mushtaq Ahmed - and the leg spinner went on to collect one more to finish with a four for 87 and carry his season's total victims to 86.

Andy Flower was the only other Essex batsman to bat with any real confidence and authority, scoring 50, containing eight boundaries, before falling victim to a superb diving catch by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose to provide paceman Jason Lewry with his only success.

There was a late flourish from James Middlebrook (33) and Graham Napier (34) to give the home total a more respectable look but Sussex bowlers were the dominant force.

The Essex innings came to a close at the fall of the ninth wicket, after Tony Palladino had been stretchered off on Wednesday after falling heavily while diving to try to stop a boundary.

He spent the night at Colchester General Hospital and returned to the ground to watch some of the action, although it was confirmed he had suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Sussex added a further 91 runs in an hour at the start of the morning. In it, Lewry completed his maiden first-class half-century before falling to off-spinner Middlebrook for 70 - and his effort brought him a £120 bonus. That is because he is on a bonus of £2 for every run he scores above 10, an incentive set up by the county to encourage him to take his batting seriously.

Lewry shared in a ninth-wicket stand of 143 with Matt Prior, who finished with a career-best 153 not out from 134 deliveries - including 19 fours and three sixes.

 

[Gwylan]

The only thing that annoys me about this game is that I was set for a nice day out at Colchester on Saturday watching Sussex wrap it up.

It looks like it will all be over by the end of Friday....bummer.