Sussex pair set record
Sussex 241-3 Essex 214-7 Sussex win by 27 runs
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Your support makes all the difference.Richard Montgomerie's first century in one-day league cricket paved the way for Sussex's victory in last night's National League Second Division fixture.
Montgomerie, who scored 108, shared in a Sussex record opening one-day league stand of 176 with Murray Goodwin, who weighed in with 87, as the home side posted 241 for 3.
Essex made a poor start to their reply, losing Stephen Peters and Graham Napier early on. Peters was run out without scoring, falling victim to a neat piece of fielding by Will House, and Essex were 3 for 1 in the third over. That became 8 for 2 in the seventh when Napier edged to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior off Jason Lewry for five.
The captain Ronnie Irani came to the crease to join Darren Robinson, with Essex facing an uphill battle. The pair looked to be making steady progress until Irani, having made 18, fell to a House catch off Chris Adams. Essex's 44 for 3 became 44 for 4 when Robinson fell to a Montgomerie catch off Mark Robinson for 18.
Paul Grayson and James Foster gradually revived Essex hopes with a half-century partnership but the run rate was climbing. Grayson brought up his 50 with a thick edge but in the next over he played round James Kirtley's straight slower ball and was bowled for 52.
Ashley Cowan then fell victim to Lewry's direct hit to reduce Essex to 137 for 6, before Ricky Anderson was run out for 22 by Goodwin. Foster was joined by Tim Mason, but they needed 36 to win from the final over and could only finish unbeaten on 56 and 10 respectively.
The Sussex openers had laid the foundations for victory with their record partnership before Goodwin was well caught low down at mid-wicket by Peters as he played a delivery from Mason off his legs.
Montgomerie completed his century by turning Cowan for his eighth boundary, having faced 121 deliveries. The former Northamptonshire opener was dismissed in the 44th over, run out at the non-striker's end after Adams attempted a second off Justin Bishop. Adams' 36-ball knock ended soon afterwards as he skied Cowan to Peters having made 25.
* The Netherlands lifted the International Cricket Council Trophy with a last-ball victory over Namibia in Toronto. They reached 196 for 8 after the Africans had hit 195 for 9 off 50 overs. The finalists had already booked places in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa – the winner of the Canada versus Scotland World Cup qualifying final tonight will join them.
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