12:23pm Sunday 27th September 2009
By Bruce Talbot
Amazing scenes as Durham beat Somerset by two wickets with two balls to spare to hand Sussex the title.
Look out for more reaction on this site and in the Argus tomorrow. That's it from me for another season. Hope those of you who have followed Sussex's fortunes have enjoyed our coverage. I'll be in India for the group stages of the Champions League and will be updating from there. Winter well!
Kirtley is last out, caught by Mitchell to give Fisher his third wicket on his last appearance for the Royals. So Sussex lose by 49 runs and must now hope that Durham beat Somerset at Taunton. They are going to show the closing stages of that game on the big screen so I don't imagine the Sussex fans will be leaving here in a hurry. If that game finishes in a tie incidentally Sussex will be champions because they have won one more game.
That could be the end for Sussex. Chawla hit his third six off Batty - a huge effort which bounced in the car park at the Diglis end and into an adjoining field - but now he has been bowled coming down the pitch trying to repeat the shot. 32 off 33 balls for the Indian but all in vain unless RMJ can perform a miracle with last man Kirtley. RMJ is 3. Durham 188-5 from 30.2 overs at Taunton.
Highest stand of the innings - 35 - but it's over now after another sensational catch, this time by Mitchell at short fine leg, who intercepts a reverse-sweep from Hodd with a dive to his right and one-handed catch. The Royals have fielded superbly today. Chawla is 25 and RMJ is with him on one. 70 needed now off 51 balls while at Taunton Durham are 175-5 from 27.3 overs so they need another 68 from 12.3. Very tense and very gloomy here now at New Road. Can't be easy for a new batsman.
Chawla has kept Sussex in it here. He's hit two sixes off successive Batty balls in the last over, one over long on and the other into a marquee at mid-wicket. He is 20 and Hodd 19. 80 off 10.5 overs and the Sussex choir have found their voice again. Durham 168-5 at Taunton in the 25th over.
Just saying to a colleague that I fancy Nash to see Sussex home. Oh dear. He has played his first aggressive shot trying to hit Mitchell over cow corner and Ali has made ground from the mid-wicket boundary to take an outstanding catch. All very quiet now in the Dolly Stand. Hodd is 11 and Chawla has joined him on the ground where he scored a maiden hundred in June. Hopefully that will inspire him but this looks a lost cause.
Now Yardy is out and this is going t**s up for Sussex. Nash drove Mitchell's first ball back down the pitch, the bowler stuck out his right and and deflected it onto the stump with Yardy out of his ground. The skipper goes for 14. Nash is 4 and Andy Hodd 1 not out. Who's going to be the hero for Sussex? Down at Taunton, Durham are 129-3 in the 16th chasing 243 to win.
Smith goes for 1. Hardly had a look at the bowling then drove Batty straight down Moore's throat at long on. Reckless shot to say the least. It's not as if Sussex need ten an over! All down to Yardy (13) and Chris Nash, who is with him now. Durham 119-2 chasing 243 in the 15th so that's good news.
Dare I say it: Come on Durham! Goodwin goes for 32, tame dismissal as he gets a leading edge trying to work Fisher through square and is easily caught by the bowler in his follow-through. Yardy 12 and Dwayne Smith has joined him. Anyone's game this and Robinson looks pensive to say the least on the boundary.
You may have noticed that Matt Prior is out of the one-dayer in South Africa. Apparently he has a viral infection and Steven Davies, who is keeping wicket at the moment here, is going out as a replacement. Apparently his dad is on his way to the ground at the moment with his kit and passport. Here. Goodwin is 32 and Yardy 9. Spin at both ends with Batty on at the New Road end.
In his first over Ian Fisher persuades Joyce to drill a full toss to Solanki at mid on. Fisher looks a tad embarassed but the Sussex fans are starting to worry now. Lots of batting left but they need a partnership. Yardy in with Goodwin, who is 18. Good news at Taunton is that Durham are 84-1 in the ninth over chasing 243 to beat Somerset. Remember, if Somerset lose Sussex will be champions regardless of the result here at New Road.
Worcs are clearly fired up for this. Gatting went for 3 when he inside edged an off drive off Andrew onto his middle stump and Solanki has just produced a great diving stop at mid on to prevent a certain boundary for Joyce. He is 10 and Goodwin 3.
Not surprisingly Shantry didn't last longer than one over but the change of bowler paid immediate dividends as RHB drives high on the bat to mid off and Chris Whelan gets a wicket with his first ball. Fist-pumping celebration by the bowler looked a bit OTT but there you go. Joyce is 4 and Joe Gatting is the new batsman.
Well that's 16 of them. 0,2,4,6,0,4 in that over, the six from RHB launched over long off. Jack Shantry the bowler. Gareth Andrew opening at the New Road end to Ed Joyce.
Sussex will be pleased with that after Worcs had 93 on the board in the 15th over. Hamilton-Brown took a wicket in the last over when Batty, one of three Royals playing their last game for the county, carved to mid off. Mitchell finished with 27 and Gareth Andrew 2. So Sussex need 215 to retain their 40 over crown. Back in 20 minutes.
Kirtley returns and immediately removes Smith for 36 who is lbw looking to paddle-sweep round the corner. Straight ball and he missed it. Mitchell is 7 and Gareth Batty is the new batsman.
Ali reached a 75-ball 50 with two fours and a straight six over Dolly's stand off Chawla but he's just been caught by RMJ running in from long on for 51. Smith 31 and Daryl Mitchell is the new batsman. Important wicket that for the Sharks. Stand of 59 in 13 overs for the fourth wicket.
The Royals have re-grouped well here with Moeen 42 and Smith 24, the stand worth 45 in nine overs. Yardy has rung the changes. Smith came back for an over before the captain returned at the New Road end and after three overs from Hamilton-Brown it is Chawla returning at the Diglis end. Still plenty of noise from the Sussex contingent in the D'Oliveira Stand.
Spin at both ends and Yardy has ended a stand of 27 by trapping Moore lbw on the back foot for 20. No doubt about that as Moore played back to one of the captain's darts. Ali (23) joined by Ben Smith.
Royals still motoring along at seven runs an over but after these two and Ben Smith there isn't a lot more batting to come. Spin could be key here on a dry pitch and we will see some soon I expect. Good crowd in and plenty of Sussex supporters, must be around 150-200 making a bit of noise. Outfield very fast - never seen the ground here as dry as this. Did I say spin will be king? Here comes Chawla to replace RHJ (6-0-35-1). Moore 15, Ali 9.
Smith replaces Kirtley and gets the key wicket of Solanki with his first ball, lbw as he tried to pull a ball which was onto him quicker than he expected. Replays suggest it was a marginal call by Neil Bainton but it's in the book. Solanki made 20 and Moeen Ali has joined Stephen Moore. Both on 2. Big wicket that for the Sharks.
Great start by the Royals but now Davies is out courtesy of a stunning two-handed catch by Murray Goodwin at leg slip. Davies had hit the previous two balls from RMJ for four but trying to glance he got too much and Goodwin took a superb catch. Bad bowling again really but just what Sussex needed after the pasting RMJ and Kirtley have been on the end of. Davies hit 33 off 22 balls with six fours. Solanki is 12 and Stephen Moore is the new batsman.
Good afternoon and welcome to New Road for Sussex's final match of the season.
A lot at stake too. Victory here would ensure the Sharks retain their Pro40 title. Having already won the T20 Cup and reached a Lord's final you would have to say it has been a successful season, despite relegation in the Championship.
Team news is that Sussex have left out Chad Keegan and brought in Chris Nash to bolster the batting and provide another spin option. Looks like a dry pitch which might turn.
Worcestershire have nothing to play for but could still be dangerous opponents. They have brought in seamer Chris Whelan for Imran Arif.
The Royals are batting having won the toss and play gets underway at 12.45pm.
Worcestershire: Solanki, Davies, Moore, Ali, Smith, Mitchell, Andrew, Batty, Fisher, Shantry, Whelan.
Sussex: Hamilton-Brown, Joyce, Gatting, Goodwin, Smith, Nash, Yardy, Hodd, Chawla, Martin-Jenkins, Kirtley.
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