Sussex hit back after another batting collapse at Northampton

Ben Sanderson took four wickets and slugged a merry 36 from No. 11 to put Northamptonshire on top against Sussex after a first day's play where 20 wickets fell at Wantage Road.
Abi Sakande / Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyAbi Sakande / Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Abi Sakande / Picture by PW Sporting Photography

After Sussex surprisingly contested the toss and chose to bat first, Sanderson’s 4 for 32 helped bundle the visitors out for just 118 - and then from 111 for 9, his entertaining batting then pushed Northants to 171 all out and gave them a very useful advantage.

The ball swung and there was some inevitable help from a September wicket but it was by no means a pitch that should have delivered two complete innings within a day. Both sides bowled well and both sides, after good starts, failed to show any determination to occupy the crease.

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Sanderson’s first act of the day was to hurry Sussex out for a paltry total as they slid away from 58 for 1 after the ball was changed. He struck twice in two balls just before lunch - nipping one back to beat Laurie Evans’ drive to remove his off stump for a smartly-compiled 34 before Delray Rawlins edged his first ball to Ricardo Vasconelos at slip. Chris Jordan survived the hat-trick ball.

After lunch, Sanderson received an easy return catch from a Ben Brown leading edge before trapping Ollie Robinson lbw.

He gained plenty of support from Brett Hutton, whose 3 for 41 saw him pass 150 first-class wickets, and Ben Cotton - who produced the most eye-catching of the wicket with a delivery that jagged back markedly off the seam to take out Luke Wells’ off stump.

With only 118 to bowl at, Sussex gained a perfect start when Ricardo Vascenlos edged to second slip for a fifth-ball duck but at 63 for 1, the home side looked set to take control of the game - but again the ball was changed and again wickets started to fall.

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Good Evans - look who's playingFoursome pick up Sussex awardsSpecial occasion will see Sussex stars in ChichesterBen Curran, who went smartly to 36, flicked at Abidine Sakande - playing his first championship match of the season - and was taken by a retreating extra-cover before Charlie Thurston, 29 in his second first-class match, lost his off stump to one that moved away.

There followed a succession of very poor shots as Alex Wakely, Luke Procter, Adam Rossington and Rob Keogh all flirted outside their off stumps and were all caught via edges by either Brown the wicketkeeper or Harry Finch at second slip.

But just as Northants were about to be rolled over, Sanderson cracked six boundaries and a straight six off Sakande - fitting on such a barmy day. He and Cotton, who made an unbeaten 24 with three fours of his own, added 60 for the tenth wicket to give Northants a useful advantage of 53.

Sent in again for five overs before the close, Sussex survived 4 for 0.

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Sussex batsman Evans said: "There were elements of it being a 20-wicket day, there were some tired bodies and minds out there. It seemed like when the roller wore off it got tougher. That partnership from them right at the end could be really valuable but we’re just going try and get our heads down tomorrow.

"The ball change was massive, the first one was soft and not doing a lot and then the second was hard and did plenty."