Sussex Sharks lose again

After our excellent victory at Lords in the week over Middlesex we were flying in anticipation of high-flying Somerset, top run scorers in the south division. Alas it was not to be. We posted a score of 169, Laurie Evans scoring 96 of them but it was never going to be enough with Somerset winning with 3 balls to go.

David Wiese was the main culprit being hit for 52 off his 4 overs, 18 off his final over and yet again skipper Luke Wright failed to maximize Rashid Khan.

As with Gloucestershire he took a wicket off his first ball (Peter Trego) but was removed from the attack after 2 overs. He was top wicket taker in the IPL , adopted by the Afghan community here and Somerset must have breathed a sigh of relief to see him replaced.

As one astute observe in our Players Club said “We are still one bowler light.”

Coach Jason Gillespie has brought on Sussex youngsters like Welshman Phil Salt he is billeted with another Welshman who is written into Sussex lore, Tony Cottey, vice captain of the 2003 championship winning side. Salt got off to a bumpy start but is now scoring freely. I was just talking to Tony Cottey who runs our Players Club very well when Salt was out.

It was a gloriously hot day in Hove but there is still much about T20 cricket I can’t stick. After every over a snatch of vintage rock is loudly played like Sweet Caroline.

In the final over there was some bloke still chatting way volubly about football. Counties like Somerset and Sussex will be squeezed by the Hundred. I doubt If many Somerset fans will go to Cardiff or Sussex supporters to Southampton.

We may have had a glorious summer but is not forever thus and I can foresee hundred games rained off in a wet August.