Day two report – Sussex v Surrey at the County Ground Hove
Surrey’s batters made good use of perfect conditions on another sun-soaked day at Hove. Rory Burns looked in excellent touch in the morning session as he set about stroking, gliding and flicking his way to a fifty off 76 balls, including nine fours and two sixes. Burns eventually fell to an expansive stroke before lunch – cutting an angled delivery from Tom Clark to be well caught at second slip by a diving Henry Crocombe.
Fellow opener Jamie Smith played solidly to bring up his own half century off 126 balls, with Smith and Burns’s partnership laying the groundwork for Ryan Patel to capitalise in the afternoon sun. Patel’s movement was fluid as he went through the gears and scored all around the ground to bring up a century off 107 balls in little over two hours at the crease.
Surrey declared their innings on 279-3 and managed to take a Sussex wicket before the close, Ali Orr bowled by Will Jacks’s off-spin as the shadows lengthened across the outfield and the players walked off with the home side on 59-1.
The final day at Hove tomorrow promises to be an exciting one, in which Reece Topley will turn out for Surrey as they look to make inroads into the Sussex batting line-up.
Surrey will begin with ball in hand at 11am and you can follow their progress and watch highlight clips throughout the day by clicking here. If you are in the Brighton or Hove area then spectators are welcome and entry is free of charge.
Sussex 280-7 dec & 59-1
Surrey 279-3 dec
Sussex lead by 60 runs with 9 wickets remaining
