Bicknell blow for Surrey

Surrey's Norwich Union League victory over Sussex was coloured by an injury to their strike bowler Martin Bicknell, who suffered a suspected fractured right wrist in a bizarre incident which saw him stumble at the end of his delivery and fall on his face.

His wrist appeared to take all his weight and, after a couple of painful trial bowls, he came off and went to hospital for X-rays. If a break is confirmed, he could be out for four weeks or, more likely, longer.

Bicknell's demise came at the start of his sixth over. By then Ed Giddins had already accounted for two Sussex batsmen. On completion of his allocation of nine overs, the former Sussex player had claimed a career-best return in limited overs of 5 for 20.

Neither side could find the runs that had been available in world record abundance just four days previously on the same pitch. The main difference was the fact that they were using white balls for this match, which quickly lose their shine and go soft – Alistair Brown has likened them to "like hitting a grapefruit".

So, as well as Robin Martin-Jenkins battled, he found it increasingly difficult to get the ball away and through the field. The Sussex all-rounder had needed 38 balls to get to 33, but required a further 37 to get to his half-century.

Surrey found things little easier when it came to their turn to bat. Brown could not repeat his incredible feats of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy and departed cheaply to the disappointment of the 2,500 crowd – more than had gathered at the ground to witness his world record innings.

The conditions called for a bold approach and when his side were floundering in a hole they had dug for themselves, the Surrey captain Adam Hollioake showed how it should be done.

He went for his shots, hitting the ball hard and high. There were consecutive sixes off the usually excellent Mark Robinson, a cluster of other boundaries and a fistful of quick singles. His fifth-wicket partner Nadeem Shahid got the message, followed suit with a few big hits of his own that took him to a 67-ball half-century and suddenly Surrey were home and dry with 6.1 overs to spare.