Runs galore at Edgbaston
After two days of this Division One contest, 750 runs have been scored and only 13 wickets have fallen. Warwickshire are 222-3 in reply to Sussex’s mammoth 528 all out, with. Rob Yates on 113 not out.
For most of the day, it was difficult to imagine either side taking 20 wickets in the match, but when off-spinner Jack Carson turned a ball prodigiously to bowl Hamza Shaikh, the faint possibility of a result emerged. A draw is till the hot favourite, but although on life support, the match is just about still living.
When, in mid-afternoon, Warwickshire began their pursuit of the Sussex total of 528, Alex Davies and Rob Yates started somewhat skittishly against the pace attack of Jayden Seales and Ollie Robinson. However, they blossomed into some impressive off-side strokeplay, such that when Davies reached his 50, he had struck 11 fours. The 100 partnership came up in the 18th over and Yates reached his 50 just before tea which was taken with thye score on 112-0.
Following the resumption, Davies played an ugly shot to be caught off Seales. Hamza Shaikh, who at age 18 has already captained England under-19s and played for England Lions, made a calm and assured start against the two Test bowlers (Seales and Robinson). However, having progressed steadily to 23, he was bowled by that turning delivery from Carson.
Thereafter, a subdued Sam Hain accompanied Rob Yates, who progressed to his 11th first-class hundred. His 16 boundaries included many sweetly timed cuts. Sam Hain never looked at this best and, just before the close, edged Seales to be caught by Tom Alsop for 16. Night watchman Ethan Bamber did his job of seeing out the day.
Back at the start of the day, It was a morning of quiet progress by Sussex. Starting at 386-5 in bright sunshine, but with a strong breeze from the Birmingham end, John Simpson and Jack Carson cruised past 400. It was a surprise therefore, when Carson pulled a long hop from Ed Barnard into the hands of Shaikh on the square leg boundary. 421-6 became 432-7 when Fynn Hudson-Prentice fell lbw to give Ethan Bamber; his 200th first-class wicket. Just after Simpson registered his 150, Bamber reached a less desirable landmark when he conceded his 100th run.
Michael Booth bowled a lively spell before lunch, beating the bat several times. He is probably the quickest of the Warwickshire bowlers, but could only be described as fast in the same way that Snow White was tall.
After lunch, Ed Barnard also reached his century, but then Danny Lamb essayed a reverse sweep against a straight ball from Taz Ali and departed, to be followed next ball by Ollie Robinson who played a lazy shot to another straight one from the 18-year old debutant. Jayden Seales survived the hat-trick ball and so the question was whether he could usher Simpson to his double hundred. The answer was no as he gave the long-suffering Booth the consolation of a wicket, by pulling to short mid-wicket. Sussex were all out for 528, with John Simpson undefeated for a splendid 181 off 262 balls, with 28 fours and a six – a true captain’s innings. Ethan Bamber took the bowling honours with 4-105.
Then came Warwickshire’s spirited reply.
Tomorrow is likely to be the key day in this match – is the docile Edgbaston pitch going to become a raging turner? We shall see!
