Wright stars in Sussex win

Lee Daggett: Impressive bowling figures of 4-31

Luke Wright: Explosive early innings proved decisive

Luke Wright smashed a rapid half-century as Sussex Sharks claimed a 12-run victory in a low-scoring Clydesdale Bank 40 clash with Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.

The Sharks won the toss and chose to bat but were bowled out for 180 inside 36 overs as Lee Daggett took 4-31 and Wright top-scored by blasting 59 from 57 balls.

David Sales then made 51 off 70 deliveries but the hosts fell short of their modest target, being limited to just 168-7 from their full allocation of 40 overs.

The Sharks saw out nine overs before losing Ed Joyce for 23, with Matt Machan falling for a duck in the next over after facing five balls without scoring.

Just three deliveries later, former Zimbabwe international Murray Goodwin followed him back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers when he edged Daggett to Sales at slip.

Support

Wright went on to complete an explosive half-century from just 44 balls but struggled for support, even if Michael Yardy went on to make 39 after the opener launched James Middlebrook (2-44) to David Willey at long on.

Ben Brown chipped in with 20 before he was trapped lbw by Con de Lange (3-31), with Yardy and the rest of the tail failing to add much more before the visitors were bowled out.

Chasing 181, the Steelbacks lost Willey (five) in the third over when he was bowled by Yardy and Kyle Coetzer followed for the same score when his off stump was taken out by Wright.

Opener Stephens Peters looked well set on 39 but threw his wicket away, while Sales hung around to reach 50 off 67 balls before he was trapped lbw by Will Beer (2-21).

Although the Steelbacks would avoid total collapse, they were fighting a losing battle on the run-rate front and eventually fell 13 runs short of their target.

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