Hughes Stays Fluent as Sussex Pray for Rain
Sussex is trailing Somerset by 290 runs in the Rothesay County Championship Division One match, with Daniel Hughes scoring his 13th first-class century.
The visitors extended their first innings total from an overnight 22 for one to 236 for eight in reply to Somerset’s 526 for eight declared, Hughes leading the way with 107 off 140 balls, while Tom Clark and Jack Leaning both contributed 31.
Early Breakthroughs
Sussex made a solid start when play got underway on time under overcast skies. Somerset’s seamers made no immediate impression and Jack Leach’s left-arm spin was introduced from the River End as early as the sixth over.
It was Craig Overton who made the first breakthrough with the total advanced to 49 when Jack Carson, on seven, chased a wide delivery and edged to second slip where Tom Abell held a good low catch.
Hughes Takes Charge
Hughes and Clark went on the attack against Leach, who was removed from the attack after seven overs, which cost 39 runs. Hughes brought the hundred up with a boundary to third-man off Lewis Gregory.
The 37-year-old Aussie left-hander looked in good touch from the outset, but lost another partner with the score on 105 when Clark, who had struck 5 fours, fell leg before to Migael Pretorius in the South African’s first over.
Rain Interruptions
Rain then interrupted play for the first time with Sussex 105 for three. The umpires ordered an early lunch at 12.45pm and nine overs were lost before the action resumed at 1.50pm.
Hughes went serenely to a 69-ball fifty, with 9 fours. But it should have been 118 for three when Leaning was dropped by Abell at first slip off Gregory. Another opportunity went begging shortly afterwards when Hughes, on 68, got an inside edge off Gregory and wicketkeeper James Rew failed to hold a tough chance diving to his right.
Late Wickets
The introduction of Tom Lammonby changed Somerset’s fortunes as he sent back Hughes and Leaning in quick succession, Hughes edging to Gregory at first slip and Leaning bowled between bat and pad as he aimed a loose drive into the leg side.
Suddenly, the pressure was on the batting side. When John Simpson departed for six, offering a tame return catch to off-spinner Archie Vaughan, Sussex were 212 for six, needing a further 165 runs to avoid the prospect of following on.
It became 213 for seven when Charlie Tear was bowled off an inside edge by Pretorius and what proved the final ball of the day saw Fynn Hudson-Prentice fall for 12 to a slip catch off Gregory.
But, with more rain forecast tomorrow, a draw still appears the most likely outcome.
