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Post by joe on Aug 18, 2017 7:26:00 GMT
If we don't qualify for a quarter final spot it won't be because of other results going against us, it will be because we threw away 4 points in games we should have won.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Aug 18, 2017 10:26:13 GMT
Yes, it appears that the Middlesex game is the all important one. Unfortunately, the odds are in their favour as Glamorgan have already qualified. Agreed, there is a fight for a home QF still on. Nothing would be worse than if we beat Essex tonight and then a voice over the tannoy explains, "Sussex are out due to a better run-rate from Middlesex." Meanwhile, to add spice, the Cardiff weather forecasts rain showers this evening which may affect the match and turn it into a Duckworth-Lewis shambles. Ideally, we want Glamorgan to beat Middlesex and Sussex to thrash Essex. Oh dear. Ears tight to the radio tonight.  |
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 18, 2017 17:45:53 GMT
Salt still can't get a game. I'd leave.
Two down and you're into the tail, good luck.
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Post by joe on Aug 18, 2017 20:40:49 GMT
Sussex don't go through. Somerset get the 4th spot.
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 18, 2017 20:47:08 GMT
Good effort but we're toast. Should've set more often. If you look at the stats for setting and chasing over the last two years we're phenomenally better setters. Learn the lesson.
Ultimately we're a pretty decent but under performing side in this form. We could be so much better with the right OS signings and by simply setting. Getting the balance consistently right would help too. Tonight it was Garton who just bowled one over. It's usually Wiese, it's been Beer, it's a total waste of what should be a batting position.
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Post by philh on Aug 18, 2017 21:05:12 GMT
Sussex don't go through. Somerset get the 4th spot. Hampshire waved the white flag tonight which has cost us the fourth qualifying spot. However, all non-qualifiers have tales to tell about how key moments have cost them dearly. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Aug 18, 2017 21:19:05 GMT
Just back from the match where a majority believed Sussex had got through to the QFs. Difficult to gauge one's feelings. Uplifted by a superb Sussex performance but then down heartened by the Hampshire white flag and Somerset squeezing through. Everyone at the ground was following the Glamorgan v Middlesex match which became a red flag instead.  |
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Post by philh on Aug 18, 2017 21:38:09 GMT
We finished with the second best run rate for which there are no prizes. Interestingly, first placed Glamorgan only managed a positive run rate after tonight's win and second/third placed Surrey and Hampshire ended with a negative run rate. This suggests that winning the tight games is what it is all about.
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nemmo
Captain 2nd XI
Posts: 285
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Post by nemmo on Aug 18, 2017 21:57:52 GMT
There were 3 games that let us down in this campaign.
The tie to Kent, the loss to Middlesex at Lords and the game at Taunton that should never have seen a result.
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Post by sussexforever on Aug 18, 2017 22:52:46 GMT
Just back from the game - I won tickets to it this afternoon so left work early to ensure no dramas getting down this time from Kingston!
Brilliant performance from the team and a little gutting that they've missed out on NRR. You can say about the Middlesex and Kent games but that is the nature of T20, a single over can change a game. As philh said we aren't the only team to be asking what might have been. Heads held high tonight as they did everything they could and I've got real confidence in them for the rest of the season and beyond.
Chris Nash really has been excellent in these last few weeks and he was well supported by Wright and then Evans. Having said that my favourite moment was being in the temporary seats a few yards along from Taylor completing failing to pick up the ball against the sun and finding it bounce for 4 next to him!
So, onwards and upwards in the championship! Hopefully Nash is alright. Any word on what the injury is?
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otto
2nd XI player
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Post by otto on Aug 18, 2017 23:13:36 GMT
The points lost in the early games were symptomatic of a team with little confidence, plan, strategy or adaptability. An absolute mess. No comparison to the team in the last four games,(Wiese's over at the Oval excepted). Same players though? Is a learning that you don't parachute in an overseas as captain or gamble on players who are never fit? Squeeks put his first year eggs in the T20 basket so it'll be interesting to see what happens.
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Post by jonboy on Aug 19, 2017 6:48:11 GMT
A valiant effort last night from the boys, but sadly the damage was done in earlier rounds On three occasions, we threw away points, when quite honestly, it would have been easier not to. All teams will have their own hard luck story, but how can you explain our insipid finishes against Middlesex and Kent. Ultimately, we didn't have the necessary batting firepower to win this competition. I thought it ironic that Ben was talking about how the moving of this competition to one block of games, allowed counties to bring in good overseas players. Both him and ten Doschette suggested that there had been some stellar performances from the overseas players this year. That is something we need to get right next year. We cannot operate at a disadvantage again, and imagine what adding two hard hitting batsmen to our options could achieve
Definitely an improved campaign, and a few promising signs, but now we are left to concentrate on snatching championship promotion spot
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 19, 2017 7:25:36 GMT
Two hard hitting batsmen indeed JB - glad I'm not the only one who sees this as blatantly obvious. If we want our sixth bowler so much he has to come from one of these OS positions. He's a batsman first, your sixth bowler cannot come at the expense of your batting line-up - ours has, very heavily. He needs to be Pollard-ish.
The other needs to be a batsman/keeper. Brown is proven as not equipped to bat in this form, a top six batsman/keeper is a necessity. Dhoni-ish. If those two are out of reach don't lose the blueprint - Partiv Patel/Corey Anderson.
Our quicks are four of the best, and they are actually quick. Our spin is decent in this form - both of them. I would stick with both of them and three quicks. Our bowlers have bowled us to almost certain victory this year but have been let down by our flawed batting. Fix that.
And there you have it, the blueprint for success. Aim for this team, bat first most the time, play the young talent next to the stars and watch the wins come in.
Nash
Wright
Salt
Dhoni
Pollard
Rawlins/Evans/Jenner
Jordan
Archer
Beer
Briggs
Garton/Mills
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Post by jonboy on Aug 19, 2017 8:17:17 GMT
Two hard hitting batsmen indeed JB - glad I'm not the only one who sees this as blatantly obvious. If we want our sixth bowler so much he has to come from one of these OS positions. He's a batsman first, your sixth bowler cannot come at the expense of your batting line-up - ours has, very heavily. He needs to be Pollard-ish. The other needs to be a batsman/keeper. Brown is proven as not equipped to bat in this form, a top six batsman/keeper is a necessity. Dhoni-ish. If those two are out of reach don't lose the blueprint - Partiv Patel/Corey Anderson. Our quicks are four of the best, and they are actually quick. Our spin is decent in this form - both of them. I would stick with both of them and three quicks. Our bowlers have bowled us to almost certain victory this year but have been let down by our flawed batting. Fix that. And there you have it, the blueprint for success. Aim for this team, bat first most the time, play the young talent next to the stars and watch the wins come in. Nash Wright Salt Dhoni Pollard Rawlins/Evans/Jenner Jordan Archer Beer Briggs Garton/Mills Looks good to me, and with plenty of bowling options |
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Post by 2015t20everpresent on Aug 19, 2017 9:19:51 GMT
Sussex Sparkle at Hove but T20 Dreams are Dashed
Since Sunday 9th July, at stunning Arundel Castle, the Sharks and I have been on an intense Nat West T20 Blast journey which has provoked a myriad of emotions. Ranging from utter despair to thrilling moments of euphoria. From miserable bouts of bad weather to baking hot sun the 2017 campaign has had it all !.
Many of you reading this piece were perhaps at Arundel for the first of 14 group games. The weather was perfect as was the ambiance and setting. On the field a Colin Ingram ton put Glamorgan on route to victory. Since that day Sussex made excellent progress in the competition and have always been in the quarter final qualification race. Things really started to come together when beating Surrey at Hove (3rd August) and completing a stunning win at Canterbury (4th August). Those results had us sitting pretty in 3rd place. Unfortunately the whole vibe stalled in the capital when visiting Lords and the Oval. No disgrace in losing to Surrey but not being able to chase 5 runs in 6 balls against Middlesex, a dream killer !
The T20 Blast South division all came down to four matches last evening. The permutations were endless. Sussex read the script well and in front of a packed and noisy 1st Central Ground ran riot over the Essex Eagles. Chris Nash is in white hot form right now and his 73 runs paved the way for an impressive 172 for 4 off the allotted. Sussex were in no mood to give an inch as they made 8 incredible catches. Will Beer's three wickets helped the hosts to an overwhelming 55 run win. But and a but was always on the cards. Somerset CCC quietly sneaked up on the rails and piped us on the post. Hove stunned ! After 14 games the table never lies and perhaps in truth Sussex never quite made the grade.
Its been a real Blast following the Sharks over the past 40 days. I have learnt a lot, met some wonderful people and of course seen some world class cricket action. A few thank yous to my wife Jan for allowing me this opportunity, Paul Elder for putting up with me on endless miles travelling down the M4, my mate John who accompanied me to 9 matches, food outlet Space and Thyme for keeping me feed and watered at Hove, the Hove ground crew who have been fantastic through out and the Mid Sussex Times Sports editor Mark Dunford for all his support to this column.
My £100 wager might be down the pan but the cricket season certainly isn't. We go to Colwyn Bay on 28th August (my first full County Champs away game) when hopefully we will continue up the Specs Savers Div 2 table. #promotion #proud GOSBTS
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