Sharks falter
Sussex Sharks should all have guaranteed a home quarter final but after losing to Essex Eagles by 9 runs it was not to be.
The biggest cheer of the night was the announcement that Jofra Archer took 6-45 in the Test at Headingley.
Brighton is a tolerant place and the Sussex CCC has a long and distinguished history of players born overseas. Indeed I like to compose a Sussex born overseas eleven v UK one. My overseas side would be: Murray Goodwin, Ranjisinghi, Duleepsinghi, the Nawab of Pataudi, Ted Dexter (born Milan), Tony Greig, Imran Khan, Matt Prior, Jofra Archer, Garth le Roux and Mushtaq Ahmed.
Sussex take credit – or to be exact Chris Jordan does – for finding and nurturing Jofra Archer. More relevant to us than his Barbados birthplace is the number of times we will now see him play.
He is bound to be a big attraction in the IPL, international T20 and the Hundred. As my canny neighbour asked, what will he be like 3 years down the line with £5m in the bank?
I heard Geoff Boycott on TMS affirm, as only he can, the value of opening partnerships.
This certainly applies to T20. When and if Luke Wright and Phil Salt set a platform of 50 runs Sussex Sharks tend to win.
Last night both went cheaply which puts the pressure on the middle order batters who are now chasing the game.
Essex Eagles posted 167 and the Sharks finished 8 runs behind. Harry Finch extended his run to 5 consecutive ducks, David Wiese with his lusty hitting made 66 and Jason Behrendorff made his debut without taking a wicket.
As ever, it was a convivial night. At the start the sun was blazing into our faces but when it set a chill sets in.
A director of the club brought former speedster Franklyn Stephenson into our Players Club.
Much alcohol was drunk, there was banter with Phil Salt fielding in front of us and Ravi Bopara – now back with Essex after a loan spell with us – and one trencherman member of our Players Club confessed he enjoys it so much that he makes a 500 mile round journey from his home in Chester to attend the game.
