Sussex (607-8 declared, 140.2 overs) lead Derbyshire (178-6, 49 overs) by 429 runs – End of Day 2
The end of summer always brings a bittersweet feeling, and for Sussex, the turn to autumn has often brought disappointment.
In 2023, it was the start of September when Paul Farbrace’s side were squeezed out of the promotion race, losing at Durham going into the final four games of the season.
This year promises to be different, however.
As the sun held strong and every deckchair was taken up, the latest farewell to summer was ripe with promise in Hove.
Sussex dominated Day 1 of their latest contest with recently rejuvinated Derbyshire, with Daniel Hughes’ 144 runs off 142 balls leading a belligerant batting effort that took them to 391-4 at the close of play.
Their aim on a pregnant Friday was to bat the visitors into complete submission, collecting maximum batting points and besting whatever Yorkshire could do against fellow promotion rivals Middlesex.
As the familiar motions were played through in the morning session, this is exactly what happened.
Though Derbyshire used the relatively new ball to their advantage from the outset, with Zak Chappell drawing Tom Alsop (70 off 149) into an errant drive in just the second over and Fynn Hudson-Prentice contributing just seven runs before being caught behind, this was not the story of the day.
Sussex otherwise motored along, with John Simpson extending his record as Sussex’s top-scoring County Championship batsman in 2024 and Jack Carson going along nicely with him.
The pair swished willow this way and that against Derbyshire’s mediocre bowling attack, bereft of an overseas star and the penetration to bring a seemingly dull pitch to life.
By the 108th over, Sussex had secured the full five batting points as Carson sent Jack Morley back down the ground for four.
While the Lunch delay – and a potential declaration at 525-6 – threatened to leave both batsmen short of personal landmarks, Farbrace gave his side licence to keep accumulating after their refreshments.
Simpson therefore collected his third century of the season, and Carson did not take much longer in making his second 50, with both being roundly applauded by the genteel Hove crowd.
There were fears after this point about when the declaration would come, however.
Every run gained came within the context of Sussex compiling big scores in the last two seasons but failing to force home wins.
The memories of games against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire early in 2024, and Gloucestershire early in 2023, taught them this approach can have create just as big a risk as an early declaration.
Ignoring the naysayers, Fabrace, Simpson and company pressed on in their pursuit of a humungous score.
Serene skipper Simpson eventually got caught by his opposite number David Lloyd off the bowling of Daryn Dupavillon, immediately after passing 10,000 First Class career runs by making 121 on the day.
Carson launched into full attack mode at this point, desperate to secure his maiden First Class century, but agonisingly had his stump removed by Dupavillon for a career-best 97.
Watched on throughout by a number of former county representatives welcomed back on player’s day in the hospitality area, Simpson, Carson and others brought pride and smiles to Sussex faces.
Efforts then turned to doing damage with the ball, and Sussex enjoyed an Indian summer here too.
Wickets tumbled with alarming regularity for Derbyshire, who after 140.2 overs in the field looked thoroughly miserable with the sport and life itself.
Openers Harry Came and Luis Reece made just seven runs between them – all going to the latter after he took exception with the press box window being open – while Brooke Guest was also out for a duck.
Jaydev Unadkat bowled with particular ferocity from the Cromwell Road End, producing tremendous vitality from the hardening surface, and after sending Came and Guest on their way, soon had captain Lloyd too.
These dismissals were all in similar fashion, poking or prodding at balls the batsmen seemingly had no plan for, and being caught in the infield.
Hudson-Prentice was fantastically brought on by captain Simpson to send Reece packing for the third time this season, while after Tea, Jack Carson was summoned to prise out Aneurin Donald.
Thus came the worst dismissal of the day, as Donald read the wrong line and watched Carson bowl round his pads to break the stumps.
The only major resistance was offered by Wayne Madsen, who, in his 15th season with Derbyshire, counter-attacked as well as he ever previously had.
The 40-year-old compiled a gritty half-century, atoning for the errors around him and leading the visitors into triple digits.
Having come together at 73-5, Madsen and Anuj Dal were familiar saviours for their county but truthfully profited by a Kookaburra ball that was losing its sheen, swing and threat, even in the hands of the endlessly skilled Unadkat and Ollie Robinson.
It was a problem that seamers up and down the country were facing in this round of County Championship matches, with some incredible proportions of overs being bowled by spinners elsewhere.
One such ground was Headingley, where Yorkshire bowled just eight of their first 50 overs against Middlesex from seamers.
Fortunately for Sussex, that contest seemed to be heading for a draw, with the hosts piling up 601-6 declared before Middlesex finished Day 2 on 141-1.
Back at Hove, the day ended with Coles and Carson twirling away under the kind of wide-reaching, pillowy clouds that can only mark the end of summer.
After lengthy treatment for some visible discomfort, Dal vacated the scene late on when caught by Alsop off Carson, and Sussex had the reward they wanted before the close.
Nonetheless, the job was far from done.
Promise aplenty in Sussex’s young ranks, but their shot at real glory would have to wait another day.
That glory will come, with the end of summer finally bringing positivity rather than that familiar bittersweet feeling.
Written by Will Hugall.
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