Honesty pays off as Sussex bounce back
Leicestershire 135 & 119 lost to Sussex 313 by an innings and 59 runs
SUSSEX captain Ben Brown praised his players’ character after they responded to a comprehensive defeat by Kent the previous week to thrash Leicestershire by an innings inside two days at a stunned Grace Road.
Seven wickets in the match for both Steve Magoffin and Jofra Archer, and fighting innings from Ollie Robinson, Chris Nash and Brown himself, were the highlights for the visitors in a match played on a very green pitch and in humid conditions.
“We had a long, honest chat after the Kent game and set our sights on moving forward, and this was clearly a step in that direction,” said Brown.
“We have to understand we’re a young side and there are going to be ups and downs, but we’re building in the right direction.”
Robinson and Brown’s stand of 133 for the eighth wicket, compiled largely on the second morning, gave Sussex a decisive advantage after 17 wickets had fallen on the first day, on which Leicestershire all-rounder Neil Dexter scored 52 and picked up his first five-wicket haul since joining the Foxes.
Magoffin and Archer then took full advantage of conditions against a Leicestershire side which appears to have lost focus after confirmation director of elite performance Andrew McDonald is leaving to join Victoria, and the mid-season departure of experienced keeper Niall O’Brien.
“There was a huge amount in the pitch, to be honest it wasn’t a great wicket, so Ollie and I looked to counter-attack and as we went on it did get a little bit easier,” said Brown.
“A lead of 178 was always going to be way too many on that pitch – to get over 300 on the board on a 160 pitch was a fantastic effort.
“Steve Magoffin has had a really tough year, along with a lot of opening bowlers, the wickets have been flatter and at times he’s had to really hang in there. He’s been down on himself as a result, wondering whether he’s bowled well or not, but he’s showing what a great professional he is.
“As things have got more in his favour he’s cleaned teams up, and to be close to 50 wickets [Magoffin now has 49] is a great effort.
“Jofra is just a great talent with bat and ball and he bowled some unbelievable deliveries, cleaning guys up with balls that seamed like off-spinners at 85mph.
“We still have a huge amount to play for this season. Our long-term goal is to win Division One, and we still have loads to learn.”
Leicestershire’s rolling of the dice in terms of pitch preparation could not have worked out more badly, as, following the heavy defeat, umpires Nigel Cowley and Steve Gale reported the surface to the ECB.
Foxes’ captain Mark Cosgrove said there were no excuses.
“We’ve played so much good cricket this season, so to put on a performance like this is bitterly disappointing. We were lucky to still be in the game after the first day, and wouldn’t have been if it wasn’t for Neil Dexter’s singlehanded efforts, and then they bowled very well and built up a lot of pressure.
“I don’t think anyone has been distracted [by events off the field]. This is professional sport, and people move on all the time. I’d be pretty disappointed if I heard any of the boys mention anything like that.We just weren’t at our best and we’re accountable for that, no-one else.”
Cosgrove said the Leicestershire selectors would look carefully at their options for the final two games, against Derbyshire and Glamorgan.
“When you put in a performance like this everybody’s spot is up for grabs,” said the Australian.