Match Report: Sussex Second XI vs. Kent Second XI
Kent’s talented young batter, Tawanda Muyeye scored a brilliant century for the Second Eleven, in their opening match of the season, a three day friendly away to Sussex Seconds, at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove, with the drawn game ending in a close finish.
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Set a massive 390 winning target in the final two sessions, Kent finished just 18 runs short on 372 for 9, whilst Sussex needed just one final wicket to win, in a match badly affected by the weather, with no play possible on the second day.
Muyeye, 22 years old, has already played for the first team in both one day and four day cricket and showed his batting talent thrashing a sparkling 136 runs off 108 deliveries, with 11 fours and eight sixes, and shared a fourth wicket partnership of 159, with 17-year-old Academy prospect, Jaydn Denly, nephew of Joe Denly, who impressed with a knock of 77, with a six and eight boundaries.
All-rounder Marcus O’Riordan was out in the middle for the first time for nine months following a shoulder operation, and got the innings off to a perfect start, hitting 16 fours and a six in an innings of 88 runs. Archie Lenham took 4 for 50 for the home side, as the visitors fell just short of their run chase.
Sussex scored 175 for 3 declared in their first innings, Finn Hudson-Price 75, Kent trialist Huw Evans, formerly of Leicestershire, taking 2 for 26. Nathan Gilchrist, returning to fitness after a back problem, and Freddie Klaassen, back from international duty with the Netherlands, were able to bowl a few overs, Gilchrist taking two wickets in the match.
Kent conceded their first innings, 0 for 0,, with the hosts declaring their second on 214 for 3, skipper, James Coles, the youngest player ever to appear for Sussex, at the age of 16, hitting a quickfire 101 not out, with 19 boundaries. Daniel Ibrahim 52, before their second declaration of the match.
The contest saw 761 runs scored in less than two full days of entertaining cricket, with three outstanding performances from Muyeye, O’Riordan and Denly.
The Second Eleven play their first four day championship match of the season starting on Monday next week, April 17, against local rivals Surrey Seconds, at The County Ground, Beckenham. Admission is free.
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By Peter Burrowes
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