T20 v Middlesex at Lords 10th August

I'm afraid our batters made his bowling look better than it was. 

Flash, you only have to read Joe's posts to know he's never played a proper game of cricket nor watched and understood the game and how it develops, the pressures etc. He gives it away by talking about 'tipping'. Not a term I've ever heard a cricketer use.

Sussex should be ashamed. If I was the coach I would have thrown the T cups after that betting performance and most would have gone over RT, followed by Evans,Archer & Wiese. How these 4 failed to manage the situation I have no idea.
RT, time to go. Salt to replace you. He can't do worse.

Now a struggle to qualify.

And I still don't see them win!! Never mind, wont be there tonight. Was a great night but disappointing result. Seemed to me that all (both sides) found batting tough, seemed a lack of boundaries - and some were pretty sneaky. Nash and Van Zyl aside, our batting was poor. I didn't feel we would win when it came to the last over, 1's and 2's would have seen us home but it seemed finishing it in one hit was players target. Wiese having more strike in the close would also have helped. All seems quiet on the Salt scene this year but maybe worth giving him a go - or will he go elsewhere to try and get 1st team games?
On the bright side all our bowlers performed well. I have often seen Garton targeted but he kept things consistent last night.

As for the ground - hadn't been for a few years but couldn't fault service (food, drink - and you could bring your own beers, wine etc etc) and atmosphere. Tickets with a great view were just £20. Also saw lots of children watching and enjoying the game, good news for the sport. Watched players warm up and when all left Luke Wright was stopped by many children wanting selfies etc, felt it was really good of him to stop and have them done when obviously was on his way to get ready for the game.

Great night, poor result - one day I will see them win, one day....

I was there last night.
I can’t recall a Sussex performance when the result had looked so likely, but fell apart at the end. In fact, the best example I’ve seen of this since……. the Indian women disintegrated under pressure in the world cup final at Lord’s last month. It’s pressure.
A few observations from last night:
I thought Sussex were good in the field, and that Middlesex were perhaps 20-30 light. The dismissal of Sterling was important, as he can always give a Middlesex start extended momentum. Morgan and Franklin were dismissed early in their innings, perhaps recognising that more acceleration was needed. I reckoned Middlesex might have scored more if Southee had come to the wicket two or three overs earlier. Middlesex never really seemed to accelerate in the innings.
Sussex fielding, catching and throwing impressed. Also, I liked the regular chat from CJ at mid-on/off to bowlers Archer and Garton. Garton was pulled early on for six by Sterling, from one that seemed very short. But he came back well, bowling a good line from the pavilion end; even with that six, his figures were very good.
Sussex batting was patchy. Luke Wright was badly dropped, a sitter, early on by Scott on the mid-wicket boundary, but was caught soon after. Too short an innings to judge his form. Nash showed good timing, some nice lofted off-drives into space over mid-off. No chances, but some seemed not so far wide of or above fielders, perhaps a reminder that the margins of success can be narrow. Van Zyl seemed to get less of the strike early on, was perhaps accelerating more and taking more risk than Nash. With hindsight, did he need to try to push on so early? Taylor never made an impact, much like recent games. Brown played a horrible shot across the line, early in his innings, to one that didn’t appear to turn from leggie Souter. Souter played only his first first-class game last week, but we did seem to struggle against him. Do Sussex bats need more practice against leg spin?
Victory looked so probable, but wickets were slipping, leaving Nash’s wicket looking critical. Others just didn’t contribute. I didn’t think Evans batted badly, and his run out looked very tight on a reasonable call. It’s harsh to criticise Archer because he’s young and his fielding and bowling were good. Perhaps he just lost focus, or was wrongly advised, under the pressure of the closing game. He was so nearly run out by a shy at the stumps, which missed, while on strike he’d wandered out of his crease and seemed unware of where the ball had gone. And his wild swings and misses at the start of the final over left Wiese no options. Some have criticised Wiese, but he was off-strike at late, critical times, and at the very end he had no choice but to try to hit big.
I think it comes down to pressure, experience, mental toughness. The more you experience it, the better you handle it. Sussex batting didn’t cope well last night. But players and coaches must surely learn. I think the team is improving, and we can qualify for the QFs. We’ll probably end up with what we deserve.