Story Sussex:2022 - Over 3 million vCash to be won!

[Imager36]

Griffith, Norton make Sussex d?buts


After the loss to Yorkshire last week, Andy Sugden has looked to take advantage of playing against a weak Durham side by giving d?but chances to Alec ‘Must be from Surrey’ Norton and Nathan Griffith.

The two were Sugden’s only winter signings, and they come in to the side alongside Greg Warner, returning from international duty after not playing in the first test against Sri Lanka, and Rob Follett, playing his first game for Sussex this season. Sugden obviously thinks that his side should be able to beat Durham without experienced opener and Vice-captain Paul Ewing, in-form batsman Wayne Austerfield, first choice keeper James Freshwater and captain and experienced allrounder James Harris.

With both captain and vice-captain rested, 23 year old opener Jim Wright will be captain, and the senior members of the team will help him out. There are only two changes to the Durham side who performed so poorly last time out, with Gary Plant, a good offspinner, into the side for Steve Carlton, and Nick Gilmore in to the side for Greg Hume. Danesh Umar remains their trump card in the bowling attack, and he will have to bowl well for Durham to win.​

Jim Wright
Paul Ewing
Anthony Rickman
Wayne Austerfield
Ben Bird
James Freshwater (K)
Adil Rashid
James Harris (C)
Anthony Hunt
Simon Henderson
Paul Bannister

Peter Barnes
John Ainscow
Chris Moriarty
Tony Cash (C)
Mike Weir (K)
Gerald Leathers
Nick Gilmore
Kevin Humphries
George East
Gary Plant
Danesh Umar

Later in the day, Andy Sugden called a press conference. Who do you think I sent?

AS - Hello everyone, and thanks for coming down at such short notice. I’m here today to launch a scheme whereby Sussex County Cricket Club will run a free competition during the T20 Cup season for people who can guess the players who win the awards for achievement at the end of each match. The entrants can guess for 1 bowler and 1 batsman for the entire 12 matches, or just nominate a bowler and a batsman for as many matches as they want, after the team line ups are announced. At the end of the 12 matches in the group stage, the top 3 predictors from the community will be given large amounts of money, which we hope to gain from sponsors between now and the start of the T20 Cup. In return for money, said sponsors will get to give their name to one of the awards, with the number of matches dependent on the amount given. Thank you, everyone, for listening so carefully. If any possible sponsors could get in touch, myself and the board would be most grateful.

So, a bet and win competition is on the cards. But only if enough money can be gathered with which to run the thing!

 

[Imager36]

UPDATE ON SPONSORSHIP - Dutchad has invested a few of his millions and created the Dutch Destroyer award for batting. If anyone has a nice name that will go with something related to bowling and some vCash lying around, that is still open. If not, that award will be related to Dutchad or a Sussex current/former player.

 

[Chewie]

I'll guess Rashid and Wright

 

[Imager36]

Rickman and Warner Carve Sussex a Path

Anthony Rickman’s first one day century, along with Greg Warner’s seven wickets managed to drag a troubled Sussex side through what should have been an easy game against Durham.

Jim Wright lost the toss and had to bat, and it really didn’t look like it was to be Sussex’s day by the time they were 39/4 in the 11th over of their innings. Follett and Norton had both failed by that point, as had, more surprisingly, captain Jim Wright and Ben Bird, who would have both been looking to cash in on Durham’s poor bowling attack and make big scores. Danesh Umar was good at the start, however, with 3 of those first 4 wickets, and managed to take out the complacent top order of Sussex.

Nathan Griffith’s innings on d?but for Sussex should most certainly not be taken lightly, with him scoring 70 off 93 balls with 9 boundary fours. In terms of his areas of strength, his wagon wheel showed a player very strong behind square on the off side, so bowlers may well adapt to him quickly and bowl closer to his legs. It was Rickman who was outstanding though. He stepped up when he was needed most, after being demoted from 3 to 6 to make room for Griffith. Rickman hit 147 off 134 balls, with 22 boundary fours and 2 massive sixes straight down the track. The partnership was worth 150, and Rickman then carried on, even rotating the strike skilfully near the end to form a 40 partnership with Greg Warner with Warner only facing 8 balls. Sussex had mustered 270 from being 39/4.

Bannister and Warner picked up a wicket each early on in the Durham chase, but from then on it always looked Durham’s to lose. Moriarty at one down scored 85, his only substantial score so far of the season in this one day competition. With Leathers also making 58, his highest score of the season so far, Durham looked assured, needing under 4 an over for the last 8 overs, with Leathers and Moriarty still at the crease.

Then Greg Warner turned rampant. He took all six of the remaining Durham wickets, 3 bowled, 3 caught by different team mates. In the 43rd over, Leathers took his leave. In the 45th, Moriarty and Humphries went with consecutive balls. In the 47th, Gilmore got out, and in the 49th, the remaining two wickets fell. He had, singlehandedly, turned defeat into victory for Sussex, with his career best figures and his 8th one day five for.

Chris Nash Award - Anthony Rickman, Nathan Griffith
James Kirtley Award - Greg Warner

Other results - Yorkshire beat Surrey by 31 runs.

And remember - Predict 'n' Win is still on with a first prize of upwards of 3 million vCash, so get those names in!​

 

[Dragon Fire]

I don't have any vCash, but how's the Stump Smasher Shield? Good story, but I can't get over not knowing all the players, and I'm too lazy to do the required research of looking at the indexed posts!

 

[Imager36]

Freshwater returns but Griffith keeps place

In a slightly strange move that Andy Sugden suggested to us before the season even started, two keepers will play in the same team against Surrey for yet another Challenge Trophy match. Freshwater will regain the gloves and bat at 6, whereas Griffith will aim to continue his good run of form batting at 3.

Anthony Rickman will move up to 4 after his sparkling 147 against Durham in the last match, and Wayne Austerfield and Paul Ewing also return to the team after being rested for that match against Durham. The batsmen to miss out for these two and Freshwater are Bird, Follett and Norton. Captain James Harris also returns to play in place of Anthony Hunt.

For Surrey, Mark Clews returns to the side and is a great threat to the Sussex bowlers, as is, of course, their captain, Chris Hawkins, former Sussex player. Roy Stubbs and Lawrence Hucknall are Surrey?s main threats on the bowling front.​

Jim Wright
Paul Ewing
Nathan Griffith
Anthony Rickman
Wayne Austerfield
James Freshwater (K)
Adil Rashid
James Harris (C)
Simon Henderson
Greg Warner
Paul Bannister

Mark Clews
Andy Stoker
Chris Hawkins (C)
Keith Keegan
William Malkin
Joe Denly
Adam Garforth (K)
Dean James
Lawrence Hucknall
Roy Stubbs
Danny Evans

 

[Varun]

Interesting move by Andy Sugden. This tactic can make a lot of difference.

 

[AkshayS]

That's better I think, interesting move.
But update was short, I wanna read more, but that quality.

 

[Imager36]

Evans Takes Six in a Losing Cause

Six wickets from Danny Evans were undone by a late partnership from Adil Rashid and Anthony Rickman and good work by the Sussex bowlers on a wicket that did a lot for the quicker bowlers attacks at the Oval.

James Harris lost the toss and had to bat first, and Evans got to his work. In the sixth over, after being hit by Jim Wright for two sixes in consecutive balls, Evans bowled him with an inswinging yorker, and 2 overs later, he did exactly the same to Nathan Griffith, who was out for a duck. He left the next three wickets to other players. Hucknall dismissed Ewing for 24 in the ninth over, and Sussex, who had been 40/0, were 46/3.

Rickman knew what was needed, and began a defensive innings with Austerfield at the other end, so much so, that when Austerfield was out for 31, caught at slip, the partnership score was 40. Freshwater came in and got out for 11 off 11 balls, but then the big partnership began between Rickman and Rashid. It was worth 109 runs by the time it ended, and both played good innings, Rickman 72 off 105 balls with 8 boundary fours, and Rashid 73 off 81 balls with 10 fours.

Rickman enjoyed playing behind square on his leg side, and played two exquisite sweep shots for four off Stubbs, and the experienced Rashid hit 5 beautiful boundaries down the ground, showing his strength in that area. Evans did for Rashid in the 46th over, and, when Rickman and Harris had put on a few more, returned in the final over to take the wicket of Rickman, Henderson and Warner in the space of three balls, to claim his best one day figures since the 2014 season, and keep Sussex to 248/9.

The match never looked in doubt after Sussex started bowling, with both Paul Bannister and even Greg Warner extracting swing from the pitch, and the seamers running riot. Bannister and Henderson took 3 wickets apiece, and Harris and Warner were both economical from 5 overs each and took one wicket each. Rashid was a bit expensive for his 4 and a half overs, but took the wickets of James, who had provided stubborn resistance, and Stubbs to end the game.

Young Mark Clews also provided resistance with a strong 37 from the start of the innings, and Malkin made 28, but no other Surrey batsman made over 10, and it turned out to be a pitch on which 248 was a very good total to make.

Chris Nash Award - Anthony Rickman, Adil Rashid
James Kirtley Award - Simon Henderson, Paul Bannister

Other results - Gloucestershire beat Yorkshire by 107 runs

As it Stands - Group C

Pos|Team|Played|Won|Lost|Points|NRR
1|Gloucs|5|5|0|10|+4.47
2|Sussex|6|4|2|8|+3.3
3|Yorks|6|3|3|6|-1.25
4|Surrey|6|2|4|4|-2.2
5|Durham|5|0|5|0|-4.3

Predict and Win, just pick a batsman and a bowler that you think will win the most awards during the T20 campaign, and win upwards of 3 million vCash!​

NOTE - And with that I'm off again, for a week this time, with no net access, so don't expect another update until at least next Saturday.

NOTE2 - I can't make the bbcode for tables work. if anyone can tell me what the [TAGS] are for rows and columns I'd be most grateful.

 

[AkshayS]

I can't make the bbcode for tables work. if anyone can tell me what the [TAGS] are for rows and columns I'd be most grateful.

No. | player | points
1| | |
2| | |
3| | |
4| | |
5| | |
6| | |
7| | |

Post between {| |}

 

[Varun]

Predict and Win, just pick a batsman and a bowler that you think will win the most awards during the T20 campaign, and win upwards of 3 million vCash!

James Freshwaters for the most awards for a batsman.

 

[Imager36]

Thanks Ashkay, I seem to have got it now

 

[AkshayS]

Thanks Ashkay, I seem to have got it now

cheers man.
It was a great performance by Evan and Hendersen.

 

[CG123]

Very good write up in your latest match, and a good win by your boys.

Batsman - Anthony Rickman
Bowler - Simon Henderson

 

[AkshayS]

batsman-Anthony Rickman
Bowler-Adil Rashid