County Championship Division Two: Sussex batsman Chris Nash dedicates ton to Matt Hobden
Sunday 17 April 2016 20:03, UK
Chris Nash dedicated the 20th century of his career to former team-mate Matt Hobden as Sussex shaded the first-day honours against Essex in their County Championship Division Two match at Hove.
Nash and his team-mates had attended a pre-match ceremony when Hobden's parents and his two brothers planted a tree in memory of the 22-year-old, who died in January, before both teams stood in a minute's silence at the start of play.
Wearing Hobden's No 19 shirt, Nash contributed 119 out of a first-wicket stand of 188 with Ed Joyce, who made 61.
Six wickets then fell for 101 runs to a mixture of good bowling and rash strokes before Ollie Robinson (51) made an aggressive half-century.
He eventually fell to Graham Napier (3-61) as Sussex reached 355-9 at stumps.
In Bristol, Chesney Hughes fell four runs short of a hundred as Derbyshire finished day one of their match with Gloucestershire on 242-3.
Left-hander Hughes shared a century opening stand with Ben Slater and spent four and three quarter hours at the crease, facing 206 balls and hitting 16 fours, when he was bowled trying to force off-spinner Jack Taylor through the leg side off the back foot.
Wayne Madsen contributed a patient 58 not out off 180 balls, a knock which included nine fours,
As he put on an unbroken 66 with Neil Broom (30 not out) after Hughes was dismissed to ensure the visitors ended the day on top.
Liam Norwell was the pick of the home attack with 2-55 from 20 overs, while David Payne, Kieran Noema-Barnett and Taylor all performed economically without posing any great threat to the Derbyshire batsmen.
In the other game in Division Two to get underway on Sunday, Leicestershire seam bowler Clint McKay picked up six wickets to help his side dismiss Glamorgan for 348 in Cardiff.
McKay, who has retired from first-class cricket in his native Australia, finished with figures of 6-73, with Charlie Shreck recording figures of 3-72.
Graham Wagg top-scored for the hosts with 64 before he was caught and bowled by former Nottinghamshire and Kent bowler Shreck, helping them to three batting points in the process.
Will Bragg (50), Chris Cooke (56) and David Lloyd (59) also chipped in with useful half-centuries which helped keep the innings ticking along.
Leicestershire had an awkward four overs to face at the end of the day's play but Paul Horton and Angus Robson survived, with the visitors set to resume on 15-0.
