Cricket: Delray Rawlins Leads Sussex To Victory
Bermudian cricket player Delray Rawlins hit a superb unbeaten 35 as Sussex Sharks secured a three wicket victory over Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground with two balls remaining.
This is according to the club’s report, which said, “Gloucestershire players protested in vain when they incurred a six-run penalty for a slow over-rate, leaving the visitors to score seven off the final over. Rawlins then kept his cool to knock off the winning runs, finishing with five fours and a six from a 17-ball innings which ultimately proved decisive.
“Ian Cockbain had earlier scored 61 not out, sharing in stands of 67 and 38 with James Bracey and Benny Howell for the third and sixth wickets respectively as the hosts raised 159-6 after being put in.
“Having successfully chased to beat South Group leaders Kent by nine wickets in their previous outing, Sussex again elected to field first. That looked a good decision once new-ball bowlers Ollie Robinson and Reece Topley accounted for openers Miles Hammond and Michael Klinger in quick time as Gloucestershire’s top-order again fell short of expectations.
“Gloucestershire enjoyed a much-needed stroke of luck when James Bracey was dropped at cover point on one by Rashid Khan off the bowling of Chris Jordan. He certainly made good his escape, posting 30 from 26 balls and staging a restorative stand of 67 in 9.1 overs with Cockbain for the third wicket.”
Speaking after the match, Sharks captain Luke Wright said: “We are always reminded about the rules regarding time before every game and you could see that the clock had just gone over the deadline. But we might have won anyway, even without the help of the six penalty runs.
“Delray Rawlins struck the ball really well, especially on a pitch which was not the best. That’s what they do here [in Bristol] and you know what to expect before you go out there. It’s just as well that we bat all the way down, because we needed to.”
