Sussex 375 & 29/1 v Nottinghamshire 534/9 dec (County Championship Division Two) 08.04.22

*day three (of four)

Not a cloud in the sky as the two teams take to the field on day three, Notts needing to close the 139 run gap on this sunniest scheduled of all four days whilst Sussex eye an early wicket or two with five to get before they can bat again.

Stephen Mullaney however is in no mood to give anything up easily, after building his score up yesterday (finishing on 79 at stumps) he quickly reaches the hundred but Tom Moores almost as quickly lets his guard slip. Out for 43 as Mullaney still celebrates his own success. Moores caught Alsop bowled Rawlins just moments after his skippers ton.

Patterson-White joins the show and has a good swing around, at a run a ball rate, before Clark traps him lbw on 44 with Mullaney going strong 124 not out at lunch.

Joey Evison is the man to hold the skippers hand, an eighth wicket partnership that keeps on going, and going, surpassing the score of Sussex. Mullaney himself passes 150 before smashing a six to provide Notts maximum batting points. 400 up as Evison reaches fifty, Mullaney then surpasses his own career best, by tea he’s 192 not out whilst his twenty year old sidekick, is stood on 75.

The final session of the day see’s the immediate wicket of Mullaney but Evison posts a magnificent career first century himself before Hutton is caught for 18 off Rawlins. By the time Luke Fletcher joins the party he and Evison stand tall, eventually declaring with Notts on 534, Fletcher on 3 not out, Evison the best thus far of a promising career ahead at 109, the visitors leading by 159.

In response Sussex lost the wicket of Tom Haines on 14 before the close of play, Nottinghamshire in a commanding position going into the final day tomorrow, 130 ahead.

Sussex XI: Orr, Haines (c), Alsop, Carter, Clark, Ibrahim, Rawlins, Lenham, Finn, Crocombe, Atkins.

Nottinghamshire XI: Slater, Hameed, Duckett, Clarke, James, Mullaney (c), Moores, Patterson-White, Evison, Hutton, Fletcher.

Venue: The County Cricket Ground, Hove

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @TrentBridge Skipper Steven Mullaney in career best form with the bat.