Essex see off Sussex

27 April 2008

Grant Flower goes aerial in his innings of 75 as Essex post 291 for five © Getty Images

Essex recorded their second Friends Provident Trophy victory in succession as they beat Sussex by 14 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

The home side posted 291 for eight from 50 overs at Chelmsford, but after Sussex had reached 31 without loss from eight overs there was a long stoppage because of rain.

When the action resumed, the visitors found themselves requiring a target of 156 from 24 overs and it was one that proved beyond them despite a valiant effort from Matt Prior.

He struck 50 from 57 balls but once he was caught on the long-on boundary by Andre Nel, the Sussex challenge faded as they finished on 141 for six.

Although he did not take a wicket, Nel played a prominent part in Essex's triumph, the South African paceman conceding just 16 runs from five overs.

The Essex total was built around half-centuries from Ravi Bopara, Grant Flower and Ryan ten Doeschate.

England opener Alastair Cook made just eight before falling lbw to Robin Martin-Jenkins, although his departure led to the arrival of Bopara, who continued his magnificent start to the summer with a stylish 59 from 71 deliveries that contained six boundaries.

It took a superb low catch at long-off by Martin-Jenkins to see the back of Bopara, who has scored 506 runs in six innings in all forms of cricket this season, including centuries in the opening two LV County Championship games.

Bopara shared a stand of 115 in 20 overs for the third wicket with Flower, who batted with fluency in making 75, with the help of half a dozen boundaries.

He was caught by a diving Michael Yardy at cover to provide Martin-Jenkins with another success, after which ten Doeschate heaped further misery on a toiling Sussex attack.

He struck 61 from 53 deliveries, helping himself to two sixes and four fours before he was bowled by James Kirtley, a dismissal that prompted James Foster to open his shoulders and gather an unbeaten 35 from 23 balls to lead Essex to a formidable total.

Mushtaq Ahmed, the veteran leg-spinner, for once went wicketless during his 10 overs while conceding 55, and it was left to Martin-Jenkins, Kirtley and Yardy to emerge as Sussex's most successful bowlers with two wickets apiece.