County Ground, Hove – Sussex dominated in their quarter-final clash against Lancashire, securing an emphatic 8-wicket victory with 35 balls to spare. James Coles was the star performer for Sussex, contributing with both bat and ball to earn the Player of the Match award as his side comfortably chased down Lancashire’s modest total of 114.
Lancashire’s Struggles:
After electing to bat first, Lancashire found themselves in trouble right from the first ball when Phil Salt was dismissed for a golden duck. Despite a quick 37 from Keaton Jennings (off 20 balls) and a solid 43 from Liam Livingstone, the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure. Coles (2/9) and Archer (2/20) played pivotal roles in dismantling Lancashire, who were bowled out for 114 in just 15.3 overs.
Sussex’s Commanding Chase:
In response, Sussex wasted little time in their pursuit of 115. Harrison Ward provided a quickfire start with 27 off 18 balls, while Daniel Hughes anchored the innings with a blistering 35 off 22 deliveries. Tom Clark (24*) and Player of the Match James Coles (27*) finished the job, ensuring Sussex’s progress to the semi-finals with a comfortable 8-wicket win in 14.1 overs.
Brief Scores:
Lancashire: 114 all out in 15.3 overs (Liam Livingstone 43, Keaton Jennings 37, James Coles 2/9, Jofra Archer 2/20)
Sussex: 118/2 in 14.1 overs (Daniel Hughes 35, James Coles 27*, Harrison Ward 27, Luke Wood 1/22)
Result: Sussex won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: James Coles (27* off 26 & 2/9)
This victory sees Sussex advance to the next stage of the Vitality Blast, where they will be a strong contender based on their recent performance.
