Cricket: Glamorgan lose their cool

Sussex 332 & 166; Glamorgan 353-8 & 127 Sussex won by 18 runs

ROBIN MARTIN-JENKINS trundling up the hill from the sea, bowled Sussex to an unlikely win yesterday. Glamorgan, who over the first three days had looked to possess the tougher edge to their game, lost their way in seeking a modest 146 runs. Either side of lunch, it seemed that the cool head of Adrian Dale, in alliance with the fast bowler Darren Thomas - whose head operates at a somewhat higher temperature - should surely see the visitors home, despite the double blow of losing Matthew Maynard and Tony Cottey for 184 fewer runs than the pair had assembled in the first innings.

However, each time Glamorgan took another stride towards victory Martin- Jenkins, smoothly supported by Mark Robinson, stopped them in their tracks. They last won at Hove in 1975, and once more will be glad to leave town.

Martin-Jenkins is tall and persevering, and though less than full pace he hits the pitch hard, and can slip in an accurate yorker. Having made a career-best 78 in the first innings he has now improved his best bowling figures by a huge margin. From 3 for 22 to 7 for 54.

Although the new-look Sussex are enjoying an excellent season there is some serious signing to be done in the winter. To enter a match without a specialist spinner, even on a green wicket, suggests that the cupboard is bare rather than deliberately unopened. And Chris Adams is, at present, their only batsman of mature class.

Of course, for most of the season Michael Bevan, now limbering up for the Commonwealth Games, filled both roles, but international commitments, particularly in World Cup year, and the ever-present risk of injury means that Sussex must strengthen their hand in these vital areas.

Martin-Jenkins' memories of this game could have been somewhat different. When Glamorgan's pugnacious opener, Wayne Law, was on 16, the Sussex bowler dropped him. The next ball stung his fingers on its way to the boundary and the next flew wide of him for another four. The Glamorgan charge was under way, and it was the job of Martin-Jenkins personally to put a stop to it.