Sussex – Two wins will do

11:27pm Friday 24th August 2007

Sussex will be county champions again if they win two of their last three games.

That is the confident prediction of coach Mark Robinson after they were overtaken by Yorkshire at the top of the table.

Yorkshire now have a 14 point lead after thrashing Warwickshire by an innings and 210 runs at Scarborough yesterday.

At the same time, Sussex left the Oval with just four points after their game against Surrey was abandoned without a ball being bowled yesterday.

Sussex do have a match in hand but their clash with Yorkshire at Hove on Wednesday week has now assumed even greater significance.

The county finish their programme with a trip to Durham and home game against Worcestershire while Yorkshire's last match is against another of the contenders, Hampshire, at Headingley.

Robinson said: "With three games to go we are still in a good position, that is the message (captain) Chris Adams and I have told the players.

"We were in a similar scenario a year ago and won two out of the last three. If anything we're slightly better off this time because two of the games are at Hove."

Umpires Tim Robinson and Trevor Jesty ruled out play on the final day at the Oval 30 minutes before the scheduled start because of a wet outfield. It was the first time a four-day game involving Sussex was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

"It was very disappointing and only getting four points almost feels like a defeat," said Robinson. "But it was the correct decision. The ground was like a lake on Thursday and players would have been taking risks fielding on it.

"There's not a lot we could do but if we lose the Championship it won't be because of this game and, I stress, we are still in a good position."

A fortnight of inactivity, including six successive washed-out days, has at least allowed the squad to recover from niggling injuries and the return of Robin Martin-Jenkins means they will be at full strength for tomorrow's Pro40 League match against Essex Eagles at Colchester (1.45pm).

The Sharks could be top if they win and leaders Worcestershire, who lead the table by a point, lose to Lancashire.

Robinson said: "We played really well to win the last two games in the Pro40 and that has given us a chance of more silverware.

"Of course we wanted to play this week, but there is so much to play for in the last month. A lot of teams in the country would love to be in our position."

Sussex (from): Wright, Nash, Goodwin, Adams, Yardy, Hopkinson, Martin-Jenkins, Hodd, Rana Naved, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Kirtley.

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