SUSSEX v GLAMORGAN

Close of Play Report

Sussex had reached 108-3 at tea with Jamie McIlroy and Timm van der Gugten resuming the bowling duties. Haines punched McIlroy through extra-cover for four to complete a 58-ball fifty before Steve Smith struck successive fours in front of, and behind, square on the off-side. But McIlroy then found the edge of Haines ‘ bat with Neser at first slip safely pouching the ball with Sussex on 131-4. James Coles announced his arrival in the middle with a crisp drive to the fence at mid-wicket before a coruscating cover drive for four, also against Neser.

Coles also steered Neser to third man before clipping him to fine-leg. He then pulled ul Hassan for four before Smith, who had been undertaking quiet reconnaissance, on-drove and cover drove ul Hassan for a pair of fours. He also on-drove Harris to complete a maiden Championship fifty from 98 balls before repeating the stroke in the bowler’s next over. Coles also reached his fifty from 72 balls in the final over of the day.

Teatime update

Having gone to lunch with his team on 83-8, Chris Cooke upper-cut Hudson-Prentice to third man before James Harris deftly late-cut him. Cooke then flicked Tom Haines to fine-leg for four before Harris brought up the hundred with successive fours through the offside against Hudson-Prentice. But with the total on 113, Karvelas returned and had Cooke caught at second slip before two overs later Jamie McIlroy departed in identical fashion as Glamorgan’s innings ended on 123.

Tom Haynes launched Sussex’s reply by steering Neser through backward point for four before flicking van der Gugten to fine-leg followed by a cover-drive for four. Ali Orr also unfurled a pair of booming off-drives against Neser before flicking van der Gugten to square-leg and fine-leg. Jamie McIlroy entered the attack and was clipped to long-leg by Orr as the fifty came up in the ninth over. Orr also punched McIlroy off the back foot through extra-cover before shouldering arms and being bowled.

76-1 then became 81-2 as Neser returned at the Cromwell Road End and had Tom Alsop l.b.w. Two overs later Neser struck again as Cheteshwar Pujara departed in identical fashion to another waspish full-length delivery from the Ashes wannabe. Steve Smith made his way to the middle and announced his arrival with a regal cover-drive against Neser, followed by a punched drive off the back foot through extra-cover against James Harris.

Morning update

The last phase of the Phoney Ashes War began this morning on the South Coast in a game which shows the strength of the county game, and Championship cricket in particular, with the eyes of the cricketing world being focussed on a Division Two encounter between the second and fourth-placed team. This game at Hove has a stellar cast with Glamorgan’s Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser going head-to-head against Sussex’s Steve Smith, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ollie Robinson, with the batters alone having a career tally of almost 47,500 runs to their name in first-class cricket.

For Glamorgan it was all about a young player at the start of his first-class career with Zain ul Hassan making his 1st XI debut as he replaced the injured David Lloyd with Kiran Carlson taking over the captaincy. Ul Hassan also opened the batting with fellow southpaw Eddie Byrom after the Welsh county were invited to bat first on a firm and well-grassed surface. Ollie Robinson shared the new ball with Ari Karvelas who was off-driven for four by Byrom.

Ul Hassan then clipped Karvelas for four to mid-wicket before steering him through backward point. In his opening over Karvelas had found the edge of Byrom’s bat but Oli Carter failed to pouch the ball. However, four overs later, Byrom spliced another delivery which this time, with the total on 24, Carter caught shoulder high. Labuschagne duly made his way to the middle and ran a quick single from his second delivery before , next ball, being struck on his pads by a full length delivery from Robinson and adjudged l.b.w. as Sam Northeast made his way to the middle with the total on 25-2.

He began by guiding a ball from Hudson-Prentice through the vacant gully for four but two balls later the bowler found the edge of Northeast’s bat with James Coles at third slip completing the catch. Ul Hassan then nurdled Tom Haines through the slips for four but in the all-rounder’s next over, the debutant edge a ball which Carter, standing up to the stumps, caught at the second attempt as Glamorgan slipped further to 45-4.

Carlson then cover-drove Hained to bring up the fifty with Billy Root also off-driving and cover-driving Hudson-Prentice. However, with the total on 63, Root shouldered arms to Haines and lost his off stump. Two runs later Carlson did the same to Ollie Robinson and suffered the same consequences before the England seamer added the scalp of Michael Neser who departed l.b.w. for 2, as well as Timm van der Gugten who edged to third slip.

Evening update

Facing a deficit of 358 runs, Zain ul Hassan and Eddie Byrom began Glamorgan’s second innings with Ollie Robinson and Ari Karvelas sharing the new ball. Byrom cover-drove Karvelas before ul Hassan did the same to the Greek international, besides flicking him to the ropes at fine-leg. ul Hassan then greeted Hudson-Prentice by flicking him to square-leg for four before Byrom twice clipped him over square-leg for a pair of sixes plus a couple of booming cover-drives for four.

Ul Hassan also cover drove Tom Haines for four before Jack Carson’s off-spin was introduced with Robinson also having a second salvo at the Cromwell Road End. With his fourth delivery, he found the edge of Byrom’s bat with Oli Carter diving low to claim a catch, but the umpires deemed that the keeper had spilled the ball as he landed with the recalled batter square-cutting the next delivery for four, before sweeping Carson for six to complete a 64-ball fifty.

But Robinson struck two overs later as Byrom pulled a ball to Carson at mid-wicket and departed for 57. Marnus Labuschagne made his way to the middle and survived a brute of a first delivery from the England seamer which lifted and seamed away as the Australian propped forward. Next over he drilled Robinson through mid-off for four before ul Hassan brought up the hundred by cover-driving Carson for four. Labuschagne then straight drove the spinner for six prompting the return of Karvelas for the closing overs at the Sea End.

Afternoon Report

James Coles was five runs away from a maiden Championship hundred when play resumed after lunch with Sussex on 295-5. Jamie McIlroy and Michael Neser resumed the bowling with Oli Carter nurdling the former to third man to bring up the 300 and a second batting point, before Coles cover drove him for four to reach three figures for the first time in a Championship match. Carter also cover-drove Neser with aplomb before steering McIlroy through backward point for another boundary, but with the total on 331, Timm van der Gugten returned to the attack and found the edge of Carter’s bat with Labuschagne at second slip parrying the ball into the hands of Neser at first.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice joined Coles and dug out a wicked yorker from James Harris who also returned at the Sea End before square-driving van der Gugten. Hudson-Prentice then used the long handle to swat Harris for six before on-driving him to the fence at mid-wicket. Hudson-Prentice then greeted the introduction of Labuschagne’s spin by reverse-sweeping and off-driving him for a pair of crisply-struck fours before sweeping and on-driving him for further boundaries in his next over.

Coles also nurdled the Australian to third man before on-driving ul Hassan for four as the 400 came up in the 104th over. But ten runs later Harris returned at the Cromwell Road End and had an l.b.w. appeal upheld as Coles’ innings came to an end on 138. 410/7 might have become 411/8 but Labuschagne at second slip dropped an edge from Jack Carson. Hudson-Prentice then completed his fifty from 47 balls by pulling Harris for four and then upper-cutting the bowler through Billy Root’s hands at third man for six.

Hudson-Prentice also hooked Harris for four before Carson cover-drove the seamer for four. Kiran Carlson then entered the attack and with his second delivery saw Hudson-Prentice miscue a drive to Harris at mid-off. 455-8 saw Ari Karvelas join Carson who cover-drove and on-drove McIlroy for a pair of fours before Carlson caught and bowled Karvelas. Carson then swatted a short ball from Labuschagne for four before Ollie Robinson smeared Neser for two fours to mid-wicket before late-cutting him for a third. But next ball he holed out to mid-on as Sussex ended on 481 and a lead of 358.

Morning Update

Sussex enjoyed the better of the opening day of this match with Ollie Robinson proving again to be a thorn in the side of the Glamorgan batters with the England seamer dismissing Marnus Labuschagne l.b.w. with his first delivery to the Australian batter. Michael Neser also delivered a probing spell during which he also trapped Chetashwar Pujura, the prolific Indian, l.b.w. for nought. With two of the star turns having a solitary run between them, the above average crowd were not disappointed as Steve Smith - on his only appearance at Hove - posted his maiden Championship fifty shortly before the close. With a full house expected today, he will no doubt be keen to convert this into a hundred and further extend Sussex’s lead over the Welsh county.

Neser and Jamie McIlroy resumed the bowling under a heavy cloud cover with Alex Horton deputising behind the stumps for Chris Cooke who had sustained a slight groin strain. With Neser building up, again, a fair head of steam at the Cromwell Road End, Smith and James Coles defended stoutly with the latter bringing up their century stand by square-driving McIlroy. Next over, Smith edged Neser low to first slip where Timm van der Gugten could not quite cling onto the low chance.

Coles then cover-drove Neser before James Harris and van der Gugten entered the attack. Smith off-drove Harris for four before Coles upper-cut Harris over the head of Labuschagne in the gully before inside-edging a ball onto his stumps but the bails remained intact. He celebrated his good fortune by threading a high-class cover drive through the offside. Smith then pulled a short ball from Harris for six but later in the over, he was rapped on the pads and departed l.b.w. for 89, much to the delight of the bowler.

274-5 saw Oli Carter join Coles before Glamorgan took the new ball at 80 overs as McIlroy and Neser joined forces shortly before lunch.

Close of Play Report

Having added 153 in 33 overs between lunch and tea, Marnus Labuschagne and Kiran Carlson were eager to further extend their stand and the Welsh county’s lead which stood at 18 at the interval. Labuschagne began by cover-driving Carson and straight-driving Haines with Sussex still handicapped by the absence of Ollie Robinson.

Labuschagne also brought up the 400 with an imperious straight drive for four against Carson followed next ball by a massive on-drive for six. But with the total on 411 James Coles returned to the attack and had an l.b.w. appeal upheld against the Australian who departed for 138 having added 288 in 64.4 overs with Carlson. With his side leading by 53, Billy Root joined Carlson who reached his 150 by on-driving Coles for four - his 208th delivery - before celebrating by lofting Carson for another straight six.

Root opened his account by cover-driving Coles for four before Carlson biffed Carson through the covers for another well-timed four. Root then greeted the return of Ari Karvelas by square-cutting him for a pair of fours before reverse-sweeping Carson to take Glamorgan’s lead past the 100-mark. But with the total on 474, Root was caught at bat-pad against Coles as Chris Cooke joined Carlson. He flat-batted Coles through the covers for four and helped Carlson to see Glmaorgan through to the close without the loss of further wickets.

Teatime Report

Glamorgan began the afternoon session 135 runs in arrears with Kiran Carlson one run short of an impish fifty with the visiting captain playing the role of the aggressor in a century stand before lunch with Marnus Labuschagne. A reverse sweep against James Coles saw Carlson complete his half-century from 77 balls prior to clipping Jack Carson to long-leg. He followed this by guiding Fynn Hudson-Prentice to third man for four followed by a firm on-drive for four.

Labuschagne then cover-drove Carson for four before square-driving Hudson-Prentice. Carlson also cover-drove the spinner for a pair of fours to bring up the 150-stand before flicking the spinner off his hips to the boards at fine-leg. On 285 their stand became Glamorgan’s best-ever for the fourth wicket, beating the unbeaten partnership of 161 between Viv Richards and Tony Cottey at the same ground in 1990.

After a series of singles, the stand-in captain clipped Haines for three to register his tenth first-class hundred, and his first outside Wales since his maiden century against Essex at Chelmsford in 2016.
With Glamorgan on 309-3 the new ball was taken after 80 overs but, with Robinson off the field it was Ari Karvelas and Hudson-Prentice who returned to the attack. The latter was clipped to square-leg by Labuschagne to reach 86 and complete 10,000 runs in first-class cricket.

The Australian then reached his century with successive fours against Hudson-Prentice with the second being a pull to square-leg - his sixteenth boundary and 185th delivery. He followed this with a fierce straight-drive for four against Haines - a stroke which Carlson copied with assurance against Karvelas in the next over before cover-driving Haines.

Carlson then deftly nurdled Karvelas for four to third man before Labuschagne wiped off the deficit by late-cutting Carson for three. Carlson continued his fluent innings by driving Karvelas to mid-wicket before next ball, deflecting him to the ropes at fine-leg

Lunchtime update

Glamorgan began the third day of this contest, still 240 runs in arrears and with two batters at the opposite end of the career spectrum together at the crease. At one end was Marnus Labuschagne, the World’s number one Test batter and a man needing a further 72 runs today to complete a career tally of 10,000 runs in all first-class cricket. At the other end was the rookie Zain ul Hassan, a former member of Worcestershire’s Academy and a batter with a double-hundred to his name in 2nd XI cricket prior to agreeing terms with the Welsh county and, very effectively, doing service opening the innings for his new employers on his debut in first-class cricket.

After an over from Tom Haines, Ari Karvelas switched to the Cromwell Road End and bowled in tandem with Jack Carson. The latter made the initial incision into the Glamorgan batting as, in his fourth over of the morning, he had ul Hassan smartly stumped by Oli Carter as the opener overbalanced trying to sweep the off-spinner. 123-2 immediately became 123-3 as Sam Northeast was adjudged l.b.w. to the next delivery.

Kiran Carlson survived the hat-trick ball before Ollie Robinson returned to the attack to continue his fascinating duel with Labuschagne ahead of the Ashes. At first, it was advantage Australia as the England seamer was clipped to square-leg by Labuschagne, who also cover-drove Carson for four. Carlson had a life when James Coles at third slip spilled a catch as the visiting captain edged Robinson.

Despite Robinson having five slips, Carlson celebrated his reprieve by playing a pair of cover-drives against the seamer as well as dancing down the pitch to Carson and straight driving the spinner. Labuschagne also caressed a delivery from Carson off the back foot through the covers before Carlson drilled the Irishman to the boards at long-on.

Labuschagne then lofted Carson in the same direction for a huge six which prompted a change in bowling at the Sea End with Coles’ left-arm spin being employed instead. Carlson duly lofted Coles to long-off for six prior to Labuschagne striking Coles for a four through the covers and a six over square-leg to complete a patient fifty from 121 balls.

Close of Play Report

Glamorgan resumed after a delayed tea on 730-9 - the highest-ever second innings total in first-class cricket in the UK - with Sussex’s occasional bowlers still on duty with Neser cover-driving Tom Alsop whilst Steve Smith purveyed some loopy off-spin at the Sea End. After some fierce drives, Smith eventually breached Neser’s defences as he bowled him for 123 as Glamorgan ended on 737 with the difference between their 1st and 2nd innings scores being a world record 614 runs.

With Glamorgan leading by 379 runs, there was time for one over of seam-up from Marnus Labuschagne before the players shook hands at 5pm

Afternoon update

Sussex had taken the second new ball in the closing over before lunch so it was Ari Karvelas and Fynn Hudson-Prentice who resumed the bowling after the interval with the Welsh county on 603-7 and an overall lead of 245. Michael Neser and Timm van der Gugten continued the resistance with the former straight-driving Karvelas for a pair of fours to complete a 94-ball fifty. But with the total on 623, van der Gugten top-edged a pull against Karvelas and feathered a catch into Oli Carter’s gloves.

James Harris joined Neser and clipped Hudson-Prentice to the ropes at square-leg before James Coles’ spin was re-introduced. He was driven through mid-wicket for four by Harris before Tom Haines also returned at the Cromwell Road End and was drilled through mid-off by Neser as the 650 came up for the fifth time in the Club’s history. Steve Smith also returned at the Sea End bowling off-breaks rather than his usual leg-spin with Harris cover-driving and on-driving him as the lead went past the 300-mark. But in his third over Smith claimed a wicket with a long hop which Harris pulld to deep mid-wicket where Sean Hunt the substitute fielder leapt up parried the ball and pouched the rebound.

Having been joined by Jamie McIlroy, Neser biffed Smith through the covers for four before pulling another long-hop for a huge six through a window in a hospitality box. He then pulled another ball from Smith to the fence at mid-wicket with McIlroy defending stoutly at the other end as his partner approached a maiden Championship hundred. Neser then straight-drove Smith for four before heaving Smith over mid-wicket for six to reach three figures from 160 balls - the first time that three Glmaorgan batters had scored hundred in a match against Sussex.

He celebrated by driving Smith through the cover s for four as the 700 came up. Tom Alsop then had a trundle at the Sea End before McIlroy swatted Smith for four. Ali Orr also entered the attack at the Sea End and was pulled for four by Neser as the total reached 719-9 and past Glamorgan’s previous best against Sussex - 718-3dec at Colwyn Bay in 2000. McIlroy pulled Orr for four as Glamorgan went to tea after 202 overs - the most ever they had faced in an innings surpassing the 196 bowled by Somerset at Rodney Parade, Newport in 1939.

Morning Update

The old adage that “catches win matches” may come back and haunt Sussex as, after they had secured a first innings lead of 358 runs, their fielders spilled three chances of varying degrees of difficulty on a day which saw the visitors turn a deficit into a modest profit of 141 runs. The most straightforward chance was offered by Kiran Carlson who, on three, edged Ollie Robinson to James Coles at third slip whop failed to hold on to the ball. A sharp caught and bowled chance also went abegging whilst Marnus Labuschagne might have been snared in the slips but the upshot was that the pair shared a stand of 288 runs in 64.4 overs - Glamorgan’s best for the fourth wicket against the South Coast club - and made the most of Robinson’s later absence with an ankle problem.

The final day of this enthralling contest saw Glamorgan resume on 499-5 with stand-in captain Kiran Carlson leading from the front and unbeaten on 187, just four runs away from a career-best. Ari Karvelas and Jack Carson resumed the bowling duties for Sussex who were led into the field by Tom Alsop in the additional absence of Cheteshwar Pujara who was having treatment on a sore neck. Both batters began with a series of singles before Carlson guided Karvelas through backward point for two to move onto a personal best of 192. But in the Greek international’s next over, Carlson chipped a ball back to the bowler as Glamorgan lost their captain and their sixth wicket on 510.

Michael Neser joined Cooke who punched Karvelas off the back foot through backward point before doing the same through extra-cover to Carson. Cooke also nurdled Fynn Hudson-Prentice to third man when the all-rounder joined the attack at the Cromwell Road End. Cooke also square-drove Hudson-Prentice as the total reached 534-6, surpassing Glamorgan’s previous highest on Sussex soil which they made in the contest at Hove last summer.

Neser celebrated with a booming cover-drive against Carson whose figures of 2/194 became the most expensive in an innings against the Welsh county, surpassing the 5/193 recorded by Danish Kaneria for Essex at Chelmsford in 2004. Neser added another boundary as he cover-drove Haines before swatting Carson through the off-side for another firmly-struck boundary, followed by a firm clip to the boards at square-leg as the Glamorgan lead also went past the 200-mark.

Cooke then on-drove Haines but later in the over was caught on the drive by Ali Orr as he attempted to repeat the blow with Glamorgan on 573-7 as Timm van der Gugten joined Neser. Four runs later, Glamorgan equalled their highest-ever second innings total, made against Gloucestershire at Rodney Parade, Newport in 1939 with the difference between their 1st and 2nd innings totals reaching 454, also a new Club record, passing the 453 in the match with Middlesex at Cardiff in 1993 when they declared on 562-3 before being dismissed for 109 when batting again.

James Coles’ left-arm spin was then employed in tandem with Carson’s off-spin, with van der Gugten opening his shoulders to pull a long-hop from Coles to the ropes at mid-wicket before nurdling him to third man. Steve Smith then had a trundle shortly before lunch with van der Gugten straight driving him for four as the total reached the 600-mark for only the eighth time in the Club’s history.