SUSSEX V GLOUCESTERSHIRE AT HOVE
Sussex went top of the Division Two table following a four-wicket win in a hard-fought contest with visiting Gloucestershire at Hove. A measured 102-ball 44 not out from Cheteshwar Pujara guided the Sharks home in a tense chase as Sussex reached their target of 144 six wickets down.
“We had to play exceptionally well and that’s where someone like Pujara showed his class and value,” said Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace.
“He still works hard every day to keep improving and that sets a great example to the other players. In that situation he was very calm and got us over the line.
“We weren’t at our best at various times of the game but we now expect to win games. We have got a good balance in our team, we bat all the way down and we feel confident. It’s nice to be top but it doesn’t mean anything – we want to be top at the end of the season.”
Inserted by Sussex, Gloucestershire made 417 in their first innings. James Bracey top scoring with 69, while there were also well-made half-centuries from Ben Charlesworth (62), Miles Hammond (56) and Zafar Gohar (60). Danny Lamb and Jack Larson took three wickets each for Sussex.
In their first innings, Sussex passed Gloucestershire, making 479. Pujara made 86, while there were also scores in the eighties for Tom Alsop (84) and Lamb (83). Further half-centuries for skipper John Simpson (78) and Tom Clark (53) saw the home side take a 62-run first innings lead.
West Indies quick Jayden Seales then opened the game up for Sussex, taking 4-18 as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 205 despite a patient knock of 77 from Miles Hammond from 204 balls.
In the run chase, Sussex were never comfortable as Gohar took 5-59 with his left-arm spin, but Pujara proved to be the difference between the two sides as the men from Hove squeaked home.
NORTHANTS VGLAMORGAN AT NORTHAMPTON
Rain denied Northamptonshire the chance to take the points against Glamorgan after a sublime Karun Nair double century.
No play was possible on the final day, with the home side hunting seven wickets for victory, allowing Glamorgan to escape with a draw. “If we’d have got maybe two sessions in today, I think we’d have won the game,” John Sadler, Northants’ head coach, said. “But the weather’s beaten us.
“I thought the lads were great. I think we’ve played some brilliant cricket. We’ve just said there in the dressing room, if we apply ourselves like that, and play cricket like that consistently throughout the year, we’ll be in positions to win games as we were today.”
Put in by the home side, Glamorgan made 271 in the first innings. Colin Ingram made 82, Mason Crane hit a maiden first-class fifty, and Dan Douthwai
