Malan the Magnificant

By Rogers and Out
May 29 2015

Rogers and Out our standy by reporter , due to our designated reporter being held up by rail problems describes the detail of a brilliant 20/20 win that had some nervous momments.  We hear of some sensational battting, a stand out bowler and unlike the journeys of our loyal fans our 20/20 season has not gone off of the ralls. 

Our win yesterday against Kent was very good but this was even better as Paul Stirling and Dawid Malan demolished the Sussex attack with a record breaking stand of 187 in a shade under 17 overs.

I have often thought that when Stirlo comes off and bats for ten overs or more, we'll always have a great chance of winning in this format. This definitely proved to be the case in yesterday's and today's game.

My journey down to Hove was hindered by numerous disruptions, meaning I had to go via Three Bridges and Brighton. The train from Brighton to Hove was so full it was difficult to alight at my destination.

I took my seat in the South West stand and discovered that we'd won the toss. Stirlo and Mala batted circumspectly for the first couple of overs, but were soon thumping the ball to all parts of the ground. As you'd expect, AC played the more stylish shots, but Stirlo's power was a joy to behold. However, a key moment in the game occurred when a straight forward chance was dropped when Stirlo skied one just behind gully.

Both batsmen punished any errant delivery and Chris Jordan taken to the cleaners on numerous occasions. The home crowd were very subdued and only perked up when Robinson bowled Stirling for 88 in the 17th over. Captain Morgan came in up the order and needless to say, was out first ball trying to maintain our momentum, caught on the boundary by Jordan.

Mala, however, after a brief lull, continued imperiously and ended up unbeaten on 115 with James Franklin chipping in with 13. 221/2 looked a formidable total for the men from the South Coast and so it proved.

I changed my viewing position to the Cromwell Road end for the Sussex innings. Danger man Luke Wright and Chris Nash opened the batting for our hosts but it was our T20 overseas signing Kyle Abbott who drew first blood, bowling Nash for three in the third over. Mahela Jayawardene was next in, but in an attempt to keep up with the increasing run rate, he could only chip James Harris to Eoin Morgan at mid off and Sussex were 22/2 in the fourth over.

Wright was still batting well, however, and whilst he was still around, Sussex were in with a chance. Craig Cachopa joined him but after a couple of decent blows, he holed out to Nathan Sowter in the deep from Harry's bowling. Young Sowter was less fortunate with the ball and his solitary over went for fifteen due to some powerful strokes by Wright. Harry Finch then suffered a similar fate to Jayawardene, being caught at mid off by Moggy off Franklin.

Stirling and Franklin were now bowling in tandem with our swashbuckling Irishman keeping it tight. Jordan and Wright were keeping Sussex alive with a partnership of 84. Wright was dropped by Abbott on the long on boundary, but his fine innings of 91 came to an end when he was caught by Compo off Abbott, and Sussex's hopes were over on 157/5, needing 65 off just under four overs.

In the end, Sussex closed on 179/9 and for the second night running, we had a man taking five wickets. This time, it was Kyle Abbott who bowled superbly to return figures of 5/14 from his four overs. Our fielding this evening was terrific and Eoin Morgan's was the pick of the bunch. It has to be said that Sussex were below par in the field and I'm probably being generous there.

Today's positives - sensational batting from Malan and Stirling, great bowling by Abbott and excellent fielding.

The only negative - a miserable journey to the game.