LV County Championship Division One, Hove
Sussex 177 & 275-2 beat Somerset 213 & 235 by 8 wickets
Sussex 19pts, Somerset 4 pts
By Jack Bradshaw
Sussex continued their good form with a comfortable victory over Somerset on day four at Hove.
The hosts needed less than an hour on the final day to wrap up the win after being set 272 by last year’s Division One runners-up.
Openers Ed Joyce and Chris Nash continued their outstanding form with a double century partnership, helping Sussex to an eight-wicket victory.
Nash hit 120 before Luke Wells (32*) and Murray Goodwin (27*) saw their side leapfrog the pre-season favourites in the table.
Nash (656) and Joyce (651) are now the leading run scorers in the division after easing Sussex to victory in a low-scoring match, which bowlers had dominated.
Somerset were bowled out in their first innings for only 213, with Rana Naved picking up five wickets, but they responded well to dismiss Sussex for 177 on the same day.
Skipper Marcus Trescothick (79) fired the visitors to 102 without loss in their second innings before Rana took his second five-wicket haul of the match to leave Sussex needing 272 for victory.
But with three totals of below 250 in the match, the Sussex openers’ performance was made to look all the more impressive.
The Sharks kick-off their Friends Life T20 campaign against Essex on Thursday (2 June) before returning to four-day action on Wednesday 29 June against Warwickshire.
