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No Result At Horsham

Monday 4th August 2008

Rain had the final say at Horsham where Sussex Sharks' Pro-40 division one clash against holders Worcestershire Royals fell victim to a no result.

The players headed for the pavilion with only three more balls needed to be bowled to bring about a result under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

Sussex, set a target of 245, had reached 52 for two from 9.3 overs and would have needed to score another 12 runs from the last three balls of the 10th over to win under Duckworth/Lewis.

Conditions never looked likely to improve and umpires Jeff Evans and Trevor Jesty eventually abandoned play at 6.50pm with most of the crowd having dispersed.

The Royals had earlier posted 244 for nine after being sent in with opener Vikram Solanki making 69 and Daryl Mitchell an unbeaten 53.

Kabir Ali was halfway through his fifth over when rain forced the players off, and it was Ali who earlier claimed the key wicket of Matt Prior for 22.

The wicketkeeper had fired four fours and a six off only 19 balls when Ali had him caught at short mid-wicket by Graeme Hick.

Prior had got Sharks off to a promising start by composing an opening stand of 28 with Mike Yardy, who had made 16 when he holed out at mid on off Imran Arif.

Solanki, fresh from his 270 in Worcestershire's championship win over Gloucestershire, gave his side a solid platform by firing 69 from only 42 balls.

The opener, who hammered a dozen fours and a six, dominated a third wicket stand of 72 in 10 overs with Ben Smith (15) after being dropped at the wicket off James Kirtley on 16.

Medium-pacer Luke Wright (four for 56) checked the Royals progress by snapping up three for eight in the space of 10 balls with all three catches being taken by wicker-keeper Prior.

Royals slipped to 147 for six when former England batsman Hick (16) cracked Dwayne Smith to backward point in the 25th over.

But Mitchell (53) and Gareth Batty (42 not out) injected impetus down the order and the pair added 58 in 10 overs for the seventh wicket.

Mitchell compiled five fours from 58 balls before being bowled attempting to heave Robin Martin-Jenkins through mid-wicket, and Batty's run-a-ball innings contained two fours and a six.