Northants v Sussex 23rd September

It's that time of the year and conditions aren't quite so warm and friendly as last week, and some odd sides are being selected. Up and down the country 8 games are currently being played and when I started typing this, the cumulative score was 523 for 33 wickets.

On Edit: And to show just how odd things can be, Jesse Ryder has now recorded his 4th 5wi of the season, has 43 @ 17.79 overall, and having been signed as a swashbuckling batsman has joined Masters as a steady purveyor of medium pace there-or-thereabouts stuff.

Strange innings so far great stand between Wells and Yards.

Another good partnership between Brown and Zeddy. Shame Brown did not get his 50, can Sussex make 300, a bit of a stretch from here.

The way Warks are going they will eliminate any question about 2nd

Given where we are now in the league, and what we need to do, and the opposition, I'm surprised at the balance of our side. I imagine, and hope, we aren't so narrow to not consider this stuff at different times in the season - Could have done with another seamer I reckon. Good effort today though. Zaidi's innings looks like a patient one - has the penny dropped?

Agree S&F. At 70 odd for 4 and with 4 of our form players with their boots off, I wasn't hopeful of getting anywhere near that. So well done to all those who put on such a good late, middle order recovery. It was a delight in the penultimate over to see Mags and Zed get their 50 partnership, Zed get his 50... and the Sussex 300 come up.

Well done to Luke Wells and Ben for continuing the form they showed against Notts... and a special well done to Yards, finding form again after injury. Although it probably helped not having CJ around to run him out. In the Lancs game, with Yards looking in good touch, as CJ marched to the crease, pumped up, his bat twirling like a windmill... looking like Ben Johnson on speed.... we said with prophetic foreboding that this was a run-out waiting to happen... and half a dozen balls later.. it did!

And I agree too, well done for the Mag-Zed 50 that made it a satisfying scoreline at stumps.

It may be hard to make many more tomorrow at 10.30 on a September morn that may not be quite as nice as today's... but then it will up to the bowlers. I think whatever qualms about selection, we would all love to see Liddle emulate some of his recent 2nd XI red ball performances, and a couple of wickets, or three, tomorrow would surely please us all.

And a word of praise too for the Northern Ants, who after such awful recent maulings, and with a much publicised player cull, played with great spirit, effort and no little skill. Their fielding was good, and Azharullah, Stone and Hall bowled well all day. In fact at one time, it looked as though Azharullah was going to get a tenfer before 11.30 on the first morning.

And if it is to be the swansong of Andrew Hall, County Cricket says farewell to another hard, honest Pro who has always given his all for whatever side he has played for, and given so much to the game we love.

But no need to go out with a big score this game, Andrew, if you don't mind.

If Zaidi gets a 100 today and then gains a fifer what a fairy-tale ending to such a dramatic story this season. Brilliant
stuff. Nothing is more inspiring than to see someone in the doldrums to then emerge like a phoenix into a blaze of glory.

106 partnership - shame 110 overs is already up. Highest 8th wicket Sussex partnership is 129. Can Zaidi and Magoffin
break that record today?

This is Northants. They don't do goatmouths this season. 

edit: Oops! They do. Fantastic performance from Zaidi. His highest score
for Sussex - 100 just a stretch too far.