Sussex (H)

[SirChef26]

Don't be fooled by their previous results. All their big guns are back, two proper overseas players including the best T20 bowler in the world today. A win here would be our best result of the campaign by a mile.

[nat]

Don't be fooled by their previous results. All their big guns are back, two proper overseas players including the best T20 bowler in the world today. A win here would be our best result of the campaign by a mile.

It's ok. We've got Sams back.

[SirChef26]

I'm actually quite jealous of those going. Especially with the best players on the planet playing county cricket becoming all the more infrequent due to a bloated international schedule, the sprouting of numerous cash heavy franchise comps and international players being forced to rest if they so much as chip a nail. So to see two genuine superstars like Rashid and Rizwan at Chelmsford playing for a county should be a real treat for the fans.

[dazedpenguin]

Essex lost the toss and are batting. Sams in for Snater (obviously).

A good time for Rossington to make a score.

[ytsejam1]

Brilliant innings from Sams and in fact a great effort from everyone really.
Normally you’d be pretty confident that it would be enough but with Sussex’s batting line up, I still think it will be a close thing. Bit worried about how many Nijjar/Allison are going to go for!!!!!

[dazedpenguin]

The best batting performance for years and Sams was exceptional. They ought to be able to defend 245, but with Rizwan, Wright, Ravi, Rawlins and Rashid Khan, it won't be easy.

[dazedpenguin]

93/1 after 6. A nightmare over from Allison who now has figures of 1-50 from 2 overs.

Sussex now look favourites, which is ridiculous.

[nat]

never in doubt.

[dazedpenguin]

Phew! Well done to Harmer, Nijjar, Sams and Critchley. A nail biter, but Essex deserved that in the end.

Ben Allison has bowled well this season, so I hope he comes back from this performance.

[Reddevil]

I have seen Sams play several destructive match turning innings in the Big Bash, but not for a while.

So his effort tonight was brilliantly timed. Well played sir.

This was indeed a very strong Sussex side. An outstanding win, even though nail biting at times.

Hope springs eternal.

I hope I am not breaking forum rules, but I noticed today on commentary in Netherlands v England ODI  Mark Butcher  raised the topic of Netherlands playing with a depleted side as counties  would not release their  Dutch players, even though they are supposed to. It was an uncomfortable few minutes for Peter Borren , former Netherlands skipper, who obviously did not want to muddy the waters, and be controversial in any way, and chose a diplomatic non committal path.

I raise this because Essex released Snater, arguably weakening our T20 side against a very strong Sussex side at an increasingly important stage of T20 season, whereas Kent appear to have refused to release Klaasen who played for Kent tonight in their defeat by Hampshire which I watched.

Klaasen may have refused to play for Netherlands, preferring to help Kent regain momentum from such a wretched start. If so, I apologise to Kent, the county.

However well done Essex for releasing Snater. Perhaps the win tonight was karma for them in making the honourable decision.

[Andy]

Never apologise to K@nt.

[SirChef26]

I have seen Sams play several destructive match turning innings in the Big Bash, but not for a while.

So his effort tonight was brilliantly timed. Well played sir.

This was indeed a very strong Sussex side. An outstanding win, even though nail biting at times.

Hope springs eternal.

I hope I am not breaking forum rules, but I noticed today on commentary in Netherlands v England ODI  Mark Butcher  raised the topic of Netherlands playing with a depleted side as counties  would not release their  Dutch players, even though they are supposed to. It was an uncomfortable few minutes for Peter Borren , former Netherlands skipper, who obviously did not want to muddy the waters, and be controversial in any way, and chose a diplomatic non committal path.

I raise this because Essex released Snater, arguably weakening our T20 side against a very strong Sussex side at an increasingly important stage of T20 season, whereas Kent appear to have refused to release Klaasen who played for Kent tonight in their defeat by Hampshire which I watched.

Klaasen may have refused to play for Netherlands, preferring to help Kent regain momentum from such a wretched start. If so, I apologise to Kent, the county.

However well done Essex for releasing Snater. Perhaps the win tonight was karma for them in making the honourable decision.

I wouldn't speak too soon. Snater isn't a regular starter in the T20 side. He is however, a regular starter for the One-Day Cup side, a tournament which clashes directly with Netherlands' August international commitments, which would see Snater miss half the One-Day Cup group games at a bare minimum should he be called up again. We'll see if Essex make the 'honourable decision' then.

Excellent win, some of Pepper's shots against Rashid were outstanding, a real positive sign for the future. The umpire deserves a few on the house the next time he comes to HQ because his 'questionable' decision to give Rizwan out was a game-changing call.

[Perov]

Rizwan thought it was "questionable" judging from his stroppy reaction, to what looked like an easy decision for the umpire. A great player does not necessarily make a good sportsman.

[Andy]

Rizwan thought it was "questionable" judging from his stroppy reaction, to what looked like an easy decision for the umpire. A great player does not necessarily make a good sportsman.

He was a long way outside off stump, unfortunately for him the ball drifted in to hit him on middle and off. Hence his response.

[Slogger]

I've never been a huge fan of the format, so wouldn't pretend much about the specialist players, but that was a "Boycesque" display from Sams last night. Critchley seems to be good at short form too. I guess if we get into the knock out phase anything could happen.