Match Report - Gloucestershire v Sussex Day 1
11 June 2019
Gloucestershire bowlers Matt Taylor and David payne took two wickets each on the opening day against Sussex at Arundel.
Will Beer, opening for Sussex for the first time, scored a career-best 76 not out against Gloucestershire at Arundel. He could not be described as a like-for-like replacement for the in-form dasher Phil Salt, who is missing this game with a badly cut left hand, sustained in the match against Middlesex at Lord’s last week.
This Specsavers County Championship Division Two game got under way with conditions still damp after heavy rain the previous day. The pitch was low and slow, and the outfield was difficult too. The Gloucestershire bowlers got off to a terrific start, ensuring Sussex were only 47 for two at lunch. It felt like retro cricket as both batsmen fought to see off the opening bowlers David Payne and Chadd Sayers and take the shine off the new ball. After 12 overs the score was 15 without loss.
Matt Taylor and Ryan Higgins replaced the new-ball attack. Wells hit a back foot cover drive off Payne for four . Then Beer cover-drove Higgins for four before leg-glancing Taylor for another.
The loss of two wickets in the half hour before lunch heaped more responsibility on Beer. Wells received a delivery from Taylor which left him late and he and was caught behind for 15, scored off 77 deliveries. Sussex were 34 for one after an hour and a half of batting. Then Harry Finch, flat-footed and playing away from his body, was caught behind off Payne for ten. Beer lunched unbeaten on 17, scored off 85 balls.
WICKET!!🏏
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) June 11, 2019
Matt Taylor sponsored by @safferys has the first wicket of the day for Gloucestershire.
Luke Wells edges to Roderick behind the stumps. Top bowling from the Gloucestershire man! Sussex are 34/1 - Finch is the next man in.#GoGlos💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/n7jo1WxAMN
In the afternoon the cricket brightened up through a the drying sun. Van Zyl hit an 89-ball 54 before he scooped a drive to mid-on. Laurie Evans was badly dropped at wide mid-off early on but didn’t make the most of his reprieve – he was caught at long-off for 24. That made it 199 for four, which became 241 for five when Ben Brown was bowled by Taylor for a chirpy, 32-ball 33. But Beer battled on, with the air of a man intent on carrying his bat. He has faced 276 balls - most of them dots.
