Marcus Trescothick hit 91 off 94 balls, but still found himself on the losing side as Somerset's Pro40 campaign began with a six wicket defeat by Sussex at Arundel.

The Sabres ran up 242-7 from their 40 overs, with Trescothick top-scoring and Zander de Bruyn making an unbeaten 70 off 87 deliveries. Arul Suppiah smahed 30 pff just 12 balls at the end to boost the total.

But Sussex got home with two balls to spare, thanks to an outstanding innings of 137 from wicketkeeper Matthew Prior, who opened the innings. The Sharks made 246-4, with Luke Wright contributing 40 and Chris Adams 36.

It proved a disappointing return to the Somerset side for Andy Caddick, who conceded 50 runs from his eight overs without taking a wicket. Only Peter Trego (2-47) and Alfonso Thomas (2-48) managed to disturb the home batsmen.

After the game Director of Cricket Brian Rose told somersetcountycc.co.uk: "It was a reasonable performance. Marcus batted very well, but we probably could have done with 20 more runs on that wicket.

"Prior's innings was exemplary and we only got him out with the first ball of the final over. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition and he played very well.

"Even then we took it down to the wire. Andy Caddick needed the spell and we now have to decide whether to keep him in the first team for the Pro40 game at Durham or give him some more bowling in the second XI this week."

Sussex won the toss and Somerset reverted to the opening partnership of Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter, who made 16 before falling to James Kirtley.

It was 48-2 when Trego was caught and bowled by Chris Liddle, also for 16, and Justin Langer could make only six before being bowled by Robin Martin-Jenkins with the total on 59.

Then came the main partnership of the innings between Trescothick and de Bruyn, who added 125 for the fourth wicket, de Bruyn keeping the scoreboard ticking, despite only finding the boundary twice.

Trescothick had hit 9 fours when caught off the bowling of left-armer Michael Yardy. There was more disappointment for James Hildreth, who had made only a single when dismissed by the same bowler.

Suppiah blasted 2 sixes and 2 fours in his cameo effort, but Omari Banks perished first ball and it was left to Thomas to end the innings with de Bruyn.

Sussex made a good start in reply, reaching 64 before Yardy fell lbw to Trego for 20. There was then a stand of 99 between Prior and Wright, who hit 4 fours in facing 59 balls before being caught by de Bruyn off Thomas.

Prior and Adams took the Sharks to within six of their victory target before Adams fell to another de Bruyn catch off Trego. Two runs later Prior was bowled by Thomas, having hit 12 fours and 3 sixes in his match-winning innings.

It was left to the experienced Murray Goodwin to see Sussex to victory in the final over, bowled by Thomas, the winning boundary coming off the fourth ball.

Back to home page