Sussex v Leicestershire ( first day)
Its back to the red ball with Sussex chasing promotion having four more games left . Leicestershire are in better form than in recent seasons. Without a test ground, depedent on ECB income , they Derbyshire and Northamptonshire are counties who most find the financial going tough. Sussex who won the toss and chose to bat closed at 328-8. It was somewhat unsatisfactory that they came off for the light . The rule is that in red ball cricket if reliance is on floodlight rather than natural light the umpire will take the players off. It used to be the player’s choice and maybe it was better that way . The spectators were deprived of 8 overs and Sussex possibly the win opportunity. Our opening pair of young Tom Haines ,a prodigy from Hurstpierpoint , amd another academy graduate Phil Salt scored 56 and 58 for an opening stand of 79. Luke Wells of the Wells family came in three and scored 58. The middle order did not produce but skipper Ben Brown and Chris Jordan restored respectability with a sixth wicket partnership of 110 runs.
Ticket allocation for a final is always a vexed issue and Sussex only have 50o for the t20 finals day. With players, sposnsor, boxes , all first in the pecking this will not go very far . The problem is that it’s a popular day of 2 semi finals and final at Edgbaston who have already sold 21000 tickets. Witha capacity of 24,000 this does not leave much for the competing counties ( Worcestershire , Lancashire , Somerset and Sussex).
Finally a word on Brighton v Fulham. The Seagulls were happy with a draw being two down with 20 minutes left. I have never seen a match played in a better spirit on and off the pitch. Everyone likes Fulham and enjoys a trip to Craven Cottage but a trip to the south coast before autumn chill sets in is not bad either. I understand fans were mixing freely and joyously around the Pier. It’s change from Crystal Palace’s visit where away fans are closely shepherded by the police and the atmosphere inside the Amex is vicious and toxic. You certainly would not use these adjectives to describe Hove Cricket Ground on a summers day where some spectators sat in deck chairs and there was general atmosphere and ambience of genteelity.
