Crikey! Hope this win does not affect our 4 day form
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
Thursday Cricket in Lancashire & Scotland
- Thread starter Lord Bracknell
- Start date
A hard-hitting half-century from Carl Hopkinson carried Sussex Sharks to a thrilling last-ball win in their National League basement battle with the Scottish Saltires in Edinburgh.
Set a rain-revised target of 170 from 31 overs, the English county looked to be sliding to defeat when they slumped to 98 for seven.
Still needing 80 from the last 10 overs, Sussex needed something special, and they got it in the form of man-of-the-match Hopkinson's highest-ever one-day score.
He was unbeaten on 67 and the Sharks were down to their last wicket when he hit the final ball of the match to the long-off boundary.
It was particularly tough on Saltires skipper Craig Wright, who had marshalled his troops superbly in the field as well as contributing three crucial wickets.
Earlier a stand of 85 between Ryan Watson and Colin Smith appeared to have set the Saltires on course for a huge total.
Watson hammered two big sixes and five fours in reaching 48 from just 49 balls, while Smith offered sensible support in making 38 with five boundaries.
However, Watson's dismissal, caught by Mark Davis off Hopkinson, sparked a mini-collapse which saw the home side lose three wickets for just seven runs.
The biggest disappointment for an expectant crowd came when Indian Test star Rahul Dravid's last appearance of the season ended prematurely.
Dravid, who has hit three centuries during his spell with the Saltires, managed just a single when he offered a simple return catch to Davis.
It was left to Greig Williamson and Kyle Coetzer to boost the total in between showers. Williamson smashed four boundaries in his 27 while Coetzer's quickfire 16 included a magnificent pulled six off Paul Hutchison, who was the Sharks' leading wicket-taker with four for 29.
Set a rain-revised target of 170 from 31 overs, the English county looked to be sliding to defeat when they slumped to 98 for seven.
Still needing 80 from the last 10 overs, Sussex needed something special, and they got it in the form of man-of-the-match Hopkinson's highest-ever one-day score.
He was unbeaten on 67 and the Sharks were down to their last wicket when he hit the final ball of the match to the long-off boundary.
It was particularly tough on Saltires skipper Craig Wright, who had marshalled his troops superbly in the field as well as contributing three crucial wickets.
Earlier a stand of 85 between Ryan Watson and Colin Smith appeared to have set the Saltires on course for a huge total.
Watson hammered two big sixes and five fours in reaching 48 from just 49 balls, while Smith offered sensible support in making 38 with five boundaries.
However, Watson's dismissal, caught by Mark Davis off Hopkinson, sparked a mini-collapse which saw the home side lose three wickets for just seven runs.
The biggest disappointment for an expectant crowd came when Indian Test star Rahul Dravid's last appearance of the season ended prematurely.
Dravid, who has hit three centuries during his spell with the Saltires, managed just a single when he offered a simple return catch to Davis.
It was left to Greig Williamson and Kyle Coetzer to boost the total in between showers. Williamson smashed four boundaries in his 27 while Coetzer's quickfire 16 included a magnificent pulled six off Paul Hutchison, who was the Sharks' leading wicket-taker with four for 29.