Delray Rawlins Leads Sussex To Victory
An unbeaten 50 by Delray Rawlins helped guided Sussex to a crucial six-wicket win over the Essex Eagles in the Vitality Blast at The 1st Central County Ground.
The victory lifted Sussex into second place in the South Group and one win from their two remaining games, away to Hampshire and Kent, will be enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Essex will need to win both their games to have a chance of making the last eight.
Sussex were in trouble after two of their other experienced players, Travis Head and David Wiese, departed cheaply to leave them 67 for four at halfway. But after a skittish start, Rawlins gave Ravi Bopara impressive support in a stand of 85 in 8.4 overs which took the game away from Essex, despite miserly bowling by spinners Simon Harmer and Aron Nijjar, who had combined figures of three for 34 from 7.3 overs.
Essex Eagles Inning
..53 [45] Tom Westley c Travis Head b David Wiese
..06 [05] Adam Wheater c Ravi Bopara b Ollie Robinson
..38 [26] Michael Pepper st Oli Carter b Archie Lenham
..10 [12] Paul Walter c Harrison Ward b Will Beer
..10 [09] James Neesham c Ravi Bopara b Chris Jordan
..03 [03] Ryan ten Doeschate c Harrison Ward b Chris Jordan
..02 [03] FIN Khushi LBW Ollie Robinson
..09 [05] Simon Harmer b Chris Jordan
..04 [06] Aron Nijjar c Luke Wright b David Wiese
..04 [05] Jack Plom Not Out
..02 [01] Sam Cook Not Out
..05 Extras [1lb-4w]
146 Total for 9 wickets after 20 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-8 [Wheater], 2-80 [Pepper], 3-103 [Walter], 4-121 [Westley], 5-121 [Neesham], 6-125 [ten Doeschate], 7-126 [Khushi], 8-139 [Harmer], 9-143 [Nijjar]
Sussex Bowlers
2.0-0-22-0 Delray Rawlins
4.0-0-15-2 Ollie Robinson
4.0-0-30-3 Chris Jordan
4.0-0-28-2 David Wiese
2.0-0-14-1 Will Beer
3.0-0-26-1 Archie Lenham
1.0-0-10-0 Ravi Bopara
Sussex Inning
..22 [19] HD Ward Run Out
..00 [01] Luke Wright c Harmer b Nijjar
..62 [46] Ravi Bopara Not Out
..05 [08] Travis Head st Wheater b Harmer
..02 [08] David Wiese c Plom b Nijjar
..50 [29] DMW Rawlins Not Out
..07 Extra [5lb-2w]
148 Total for 4 wickets after 18.3 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-1 [Wright], 2-40 [Ward], 3-64 [Head], 4-67 [Wiese]
Essex Bowlers
3.3-0-19-2 Aron Nijjar
3.0-0-26-0 Sam Cook
3.0-0-39-0 Jack Plom
4.0-0-40-0 James Neesham
4.0-0-15-1 Simon Harmer
1.0-0-04-0 Paul Walter
