Nash sets solid Sussex platform against Worcestershire
Last updated on .From the section Counties
.jpg)
| County Championship Division One, New Road |
| Close, day one: Worcestershire v Sussex 283-8 |
| Worcs 2pts, Sussex 2pts |
| Match scorecard |
Opener Chris Nash scored 84 to lay the platform for a decent Sussex total on the opening day against Worcestershire.
The visitors appeared to be cruising on 109-1, but the dismissal of Nash sparked a collapse to 167-6.
Ben Brown (42) and Naved Arif (46) then put on 84 for the seventh wicket to push Sussex towards 300.
Jack Shantry, playing his first game of the season with took 3-72, while Richard Jones and David Lucas both took two wickets.
Nash, who got his innings under way with two fours in the opening over from Lucas, needed only 64 balls to reach his half-century.
The hosts seemed to be missing Richardson, whose torn muscle in his right armpit forced him to miss a Championship match for the first time since 2010.
Nash logged his highest score for a year but his dismissal, the only wicket for Gareth Andrew, began the collapse, as Shantry bagged 3-10 in a nine-over spell up to tea.
Brown and Naved steadied things after the interval, but both departed in the space of seven balls soon after Worcestershire took the new ball.
Brown top-edged Lucas to Vikram Solanki, running back from slip, and Naved was caught behind, attempting to swat a short delivery from Jones.
VIEWS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX
BBC Hereford & Worcestershire's Dave Bradley:
"A good day's cricket. The sun shone and for once play ended on time. Strange, as all but five overs were bowled by the pacemen.
"Sussex were well in control at lunch thanks to a fine knock by Nash, but once he went it was a struggle for Sussex.
"They lost five wickets between lunch and tea, as Worcestershire bowled a much tighter line and length.
"Naved and Brown then led a recovery and it'll be interesting to see what a good score is on this pitch."
BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms:
"A day of fluctuating fortunes where, due to to a slow outfield, the Sussex overnight score may be better that it looks.
"Having won the toss, Sussex will have been disappointed to have slipped from 101-1 at lunch to 167-6 at tea.
"The lower order batted with great application, and the partnership of 84 for the seventh wicket between Ben Brown and Naved Arif may prove decisive in the match.
"Sussex skipper Michael Yardy was surprised by how dry the pitch was after all the recent wet weather, and expects some turn later in the match, meaning Monty Panesar could have an important role to play as the game progresses."
