Sussex, Tykes draw and survive

Goodwin century lights up relaxed final day

Last updated: 27th September 2008

murray goodwin

Goodwin: scored 118 off 183 balls

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LV County Championship - Division One
Hove
Yorkshire 400-9 dec (A U Rashid 111, D J Wainwright 104 no, Mohammad Sami 4-117) v Sussex 207 (C D Nash 106) & 397-9 dec (M W Goodwin 118, M H Yardy 72, R S C Martin-Jenkins 56, A U Rashid 7-136)
Sussex (8pts) drew with Yorkshire (12pts)

Sussex and Yorkshire live to fight another season in Division One of the LV County Championship after their draw at Hove proved enough for both teams to avoid relegation.

Kent's defeat to Durham earlier in the day, combined with the bonus points accumulated during the opening three days on the south coast, erased any lingering drop fears for each set of players.

Murray Goodwin compiled his sixth first-class hundred of the year before stumps were drawn an hour before the scheduled close of play, with Sussex on 397-9 in their second innngs - an overall lead of 204.

The hosts, who had been asked to follow-on on day three, resumed on 118-2 and, although leg-spinner Adil Rashid eventually finished with 7-136, a positive result never looked on the cards.

That was mainly thanks to the contributions of Michael Yardy (72), Goodwin (118) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (56).

There was also a poignant moment for Chris Adams, who was given a standing ovation on his way to the crease for his last innings as Sussex captain.

Adams hit three sixes during a run-a-ball knock of 35 before he was caught attempting another big shot off Rashid.

He left the field to a rousing reception, waving his bat and cap to the assembled throng, with talk of his possible retirement gathering extra momentum.

Day three

A century from Chris Nash could save Sussex from the drop despite being forced to follow-on at Hove.

With both sides chasing valuable points, Nash (106) scored more than half his team's first innings runs to guide them to a batting point before the team prospered in late afternoon sunshine in their second knock.

But with Kent under pressure in their final match, both Yorkshire and Sussex could just require a draw to remain in the top flight.

After Yorkshire spinners David Wainwright (two for nine) and Adil Rashid took the last four wickets for just 14 runs to hasten the end of Sussex's first innings, Anthony McGrath was persuaded to push for victory by asking his hosts to bat again.

But the likelihood of an agreeable stalemate grew as Nash went in again, adding 88 for the opening wicket with Michael Yardy (60 not out) before finally falling to Rashid, edging to slip.

And although Carl Hopkinson fell cheaply to Wainwright, Yardy stood firm with an 87-ball half-century while Murray Goodwin remains on 15 not out.

The latter had earlier dug in with Nash under a cloudless sky before Gerard Brophy brought off a neat stumping down the leg side, standing up to the 6ft 4in pace of Steve Patterson.

Matt Prior (25) then added 60 with Nash until Prior slapped Patterson to point, where Richard Pyrah took a nonchalant one-handed catch.

Tim Bresnan snared Chris Adams at gully and with Sussex on 129-6, safety looked along way off, but Nash kept his cool to reach his century off 163 balls, sharing a crucial stand of 64 with Luke Wright (40).

The batsman succumbed to Wainwright's first ball, holing out to Adam Lyth, and the tail soon collapsed with Mohammad Sami falling to the same bowler and Rashid trapping Robin Martin-Jenkins.

Day Two

A truly remarkable lower-order fightback from Yorkshire turned their game at Sussex on its head, with both Adil Rashid and David Wainwright making shock tons to put them in charge at Hove.

After slumping to 86-4 on a cloudy and rainy first day, young spinner Rashid hit a superb 11, before number ten Wainright hit an unbeaten 104 as the visitors were able to declare on 400-9.

Although they spent the first day on the back foot, the White Rose county then turned the tables on Sussex as they reduced the hosts to 25-3 by the close and in with a shout of a famous victory.

After staring down the barrel of relegation at the start of the match, maximum batting points means Yorkshire have a chance of staying up now and Sussex will be sweating as they could now be on the wrong end of relegation.

Rashid added 80 runs with Tim Bresnan to double Yorkshire's overnight score before Bresnan got out for 39 and at 160-7 the end looked in sight.

However, Rashid compiled 140 runs alongside Wainwright for the eighth wicket before Mohammad Sami ended Rashid's 205-ball vigil on 111.

Even Matthew Hoggard (28) got in on the act as he and Wainwright ended with an unbeaten stand of 82 to get Yorkshire to 400 and full batting points.

Sussex them slipped to 25-3 with two wickets for Hoggard and one for Rashid and now it is the hosts that need a rearguard action to climb away from trouble.

Day One

Only 38 overs were possible at Hove but it was enough for Sussex to have Yorkshire in big trouble at 84-6 in their Division One relegation battle.

Both sides are in danger of losing their Division One status but Sussex will be breathing a little easier after two late wickets saw Yorkshire stumble to 84-6.

Mohammad Sami took 3-39 as Anthony McGrath's men made a poor first attempt to stave off relegation, after being put into bat under cloudy conditions after an hour-long delay to the start.

After two interruptions to play early on, Adam Lyth was out for a ten-ball duck as under eight overs were bowled before lunch.

McGrath himself made just three from 32 balls while top-scorer Andrew Gayle made 31 before becoming Sami's first wicket.

Jacques Rudolph and Gerard Brophy made 29 and negotiated the tricky second session, but after another delay of two hours they were both removed by Sami.

Jason Lewry then removed nightwatchman Steve Patterson thanks to more inswing, and that left the White Rose county in deep trouble.