Glo’sters stun Sussex with terrific fightback

GLOUCESTERSHIRE produced a remarkable fightback at Hove to beat Sussex by four runs in a lastover thriller in the Vitality Blast on Friday evening.

The visitors took eight wickets for just 23 runs in six overs to move up to third in the South Group.

It was a spectacular collapse by Sussex, who appeared on course for a routine victory when they reached 118 for three in the 14th over and were cruising towards their target of 146 with Tom Alsop and Fynn Hudson-Prentice having added 69 in 53 balls.

However, the next five batters managed just 13 runs between them amid tight bowling and suspect shot selection under pressure.

Last pair Archie Lenham and Steven Finn needed nine off the final over, but David Payne held his nerve to seal victory with two balls to spare when Finn’s top edge gave wicketkeeper James Bracey, right, his fifth catch of the innings.

Earlier, Gloucestershire rallied with the bat thanks to a stand of 98 by Glenn Phillips and Jack Taylor.

Phillips, who made 66, said: “Special things can happen in cricket and that was one of those occasions. We didn’t quite pull it off against Somerset (on Thursday), so the way the guys pulled together at the end there was absolutely brilliant.”

■ Jordan Cox smashed a careerbest 94 to lead struggling Kent to a surprise 32-run Vitality Blast victory over Somerset at Taunton on Friday evening.

The visitors posted 202 for five after losing the toss and Somerset could only manage 170 for nine in reply. Tom Abell made 43 and Ben Green struck 40, but the hosts were well off the pace.

Abell said: “We came into this game full of confidence, and it was a really good wicket, but they probably got 20 more than they should have done.

“Then you want to get off to a good start, but we were behind the rate and when that gets to 11 and 12 an over and you are losing wickets as well it is really difficult.

“It’s a slight setback and we had one of those against Sussex.

“We have got to learn from it and come back because we are still in a great position in the table.”