Sussex win despite late charge

By Jeremy Horne
May 6 2002

Sussex beat Middlesex for the 6th consecutive time in one day cricket, but were made to work after seemingly being in control of the match.

After winning the toss, the Sussex openers both recorded 50’s in an opening stand of 139 before Tony Ambrose was caught off Simon Cook. A mix up saw the end of Montgomerie when on 85 after he was left stranded going for a single. Sussex ended up posting a challenging 252-6, with captain Chris Adams scoring an unbeaten 40. A presentation was then made to Angus Fraser to commemorate his final home match for Middlesex.

Middlesex’s reply began slowly with Robin Martin- Jenkins and Billy Taylor taking three wickets apiece to ruin the hosts top order and reduce them to 62-7, with only the openers reaching double figures. However, they were made to wait for their victory as Ashley Noffke and David Nash both scored half centuries in an all time Benson and Hedges cup record stand of 112 for the 8th wicket. When Will House dismissed Noffke, Chad Keegan joined Nash in a quick-fire stand of 49 and threatened an unlikely victory. It was not to be as Taylor was reintroduced and he took the wickets of Keegan and Nash in 3 deliveries to finish with 5-28 and win the match for Sussex by only 28 runs. He was also named the Gold award winner.

Middlesex must now beat Hampshire tomorrow and hope that Kent lose to Essex, if we are to have any chance of progressing in the competition. Good Luck must go to Angus Fraser as he leads Middlesex out for the final time.

Sussex innings:

Montgomerie Run out (Hutton/Nash) 85
Ambrose c Shah b Cook 56
Goodwin b Cook 29
Adams Not out 40
House c Hutton b Noffke 9
Cottey c Shah b Noffke 8
Martin- Jenkins c Nash b Keegan 13
Yardy Not out 0

Extras 12

Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 252

Did not bat: Davis, Kirtley, Taylor

Middlesex innings:

Strauss c Yardy b Martin- Jenkins 13
Koenig c Montgomerie b Davis 30
Hutton c Ambrose b Taylor 3
Shah lbw b Taylor 0
Joyce c Ambrose b Martin- Jenkins 1
Weekes b Martin- Jenkins 1
Nash b Taylor 68
Cook c Adams b Taylor 2
Noffke c Kirtley b House 57
Keegan b Taylor 24
Fraser Not out 1

Extras 24

Total (all out, 48.3 overs) 224