12:00pm Monday 22nd March 2010
Skipper Mike Yardy declared himself happy with the first stage of Sussex’s pre-season preparations despite a surprise defeat in the final of the Pro Arch T20 tournament in Dubai.
Having won three games to reach the final, including victories against Surrey Lions and Cape Cobras, the Sharks surprisingly succumbed to a Fly Emirates XI.
A visa services officer and a baggage handler for the national airline spun out an inexperienced Sussex side, captained for the first time by 21-year-old Will Beer, for just 71.
Yardy said: “I’m disappointed we lost but we’ve taken a lot out of this tournament and it’s been great for us to get away to warmer weather. We’ve enjoyed a 100% record getting to the final but it just didn’t go right for us at crucial times.
“We’re confident going into our domestic season because we’ve prepared well as a team. We have a lot of youngsters pushing for places, which makes things really competitive.”
Sussex, with 86 needed to win, lost opener Luke Wells just ten balls into their chase. Only Ollie Rayner (12) and James Kirtley (17 not out) made it into double figures thereafter as the Sharks succumbed for 71 to lose with ten balls still remaining.
They had struggled to cope with the wiles of wrist spinner Arshad Ali (4-2-7-3) and left-arm spinner Nigel Fernandes (3.2-1-4-2).
Sussex had made a flying start through left-arm seamer Chris Liddle, who took 3-15 as the hosts, seemingly deflated by the late withdrawal of star turn Shahid Afridi because of a knee injury, lost four wickets in the first five overs after Ragheb Aga had Amjad Javed well caught by Rayner.
After a few overs of consolidation through Arshad Ali (17) and Khuram Khan, who added 47, the wickets started to tumble again as Emirates’ part-time batsmen attempted to force the pace. Beer snared Arshad Ali leg-before then Rizwan Ahmed holed out to Aga as Emirates lost their last six wickets for 19 runs.
Their innings ended in farce with a hat-trick, of sorts, for Chad Keegan. The former Middlesex seamer had Fernandes caught behind off a skied pull and bowled Khuram Khan with a yorker. From Keegan’s next ball non-striker Shoeb Muljiani attempted to run a bye to the keeper but Andrew Hodd threw down the stumps to end the innings at 85 all out. It should have been a comfortable run chase for Sussex but on a dry, desperately slow pitch their inexperienced top order struggled to make much headway.
The Sharks now switch their attentions to the 40 over format ahead of the start of their Clydesdale Bank 40 defence on April 25 against Worcestershire at New Road.
They play 40 over games against Surrey and Durham this week before returning home on Thursday to complete their pre-season preparations.
Scores: Sussex 71 all out (Kirtley 17no, Arshad Ali 3-7) lost to Fly Emirates 85 all out (Khuram Khan 24, Liddle 3-15) by 14 runs.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/