Sussex thrash Surrey to book place in last eight (From The Argus)

Sussex thrash Surrey to book place in last eight

9:50pm Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Sussex secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FL T20 with a emphatic victory over Surrey at the Oval.

The Sharks needed knocked off a revised target of 109 from 15 overs with 20 balls to spare to seal a sixth consecutive victory in the competition.

Mike Yardy was the pick of the Sussex bowlers with figures of 1-15 from his four overs as Surrey were restricted to 106-6 from 16.2 overs when the rain came.

Sussex made short work of knocking off the runs with six wickets in hand thanks to good contributions from Chris Nash (22), Matt Prior (25) and Luke Wright (32).

The Sharks are now three points clear of Hampshire at the top of the south group and can secure a home tie in the last eight by avoiding defeat at the Rose Bowl on Friday.

With the forecast poor skipper Yardy elected to stick Surrey in after winning the toss and his bowlers justified that decision with another fine performance.

Yardy led the way as he removed Jason Roy and Zafar Ansari cheaply while Chris Liddle ended Steven Davies' enterprising innings of 21 off 11 balls to leave Surrey in trouble on 32-3.

Will Beer picked up the prize wicket of Kevin Pietersen for just eight while Michael Rippon bowled Matt Spriegel for nine.

Zander de Bruyn and Rory Burns helped steady the ship slightly as they put on 36 off 33 balls for the sixth wicket.

Burns was out for 23 hooking Amjad Khan before the rain returned with Surrey on 106-6 off 16.2 overs.

Sussex were set a revised target of 109 off 15 overs and showed they were not going to hang around getting them.

Nash blasted 22 runs on his own from the first two overs before being dismissed by Stuart Meaker.

Prior launched Dirk Nannes for a six as he thrashed 25 from ten balls before being caught on the boundary.

Wright hit 32 from 21 balls before being dismissed by Gareth Batty who claimed figures of 3-11.

Joe Gatting sealed the win in style with a six off Zafar Ansari.