Salisbury puts paid to Essex

cricketSussex 326 and 390Essex 185 and 253Sussex win by 278 runs

The later Essex batsmen fared no better than their predecessors had done on Saturday against the wristy skills of leg-spinner Ian Salisbury, who finished with 7 for 72 in their second innings. Sussex took 23 points from a match which finished after 50 minutes play on the fourth morning.

There is something of a buzz about Sussex cricket this year. They have found some talented young players and if the top order could be more reliable they might be worth a modest bet to win something.

In Jason Lewry, they have a medium-fast left-arm seamer who is learning to bring the ball back into the right-hander, which is always a powerful weapon. So far this year he has been dismissing good players and before his back played him up in this match he had accounted for Graham Gooch.

Keith Newell, who is going in third at the moment, is one of those batsmen whom one only has to watch for a couple of balls to know that he has something special. He picks up the line early, he has an unfussy style, good timing, excellent footwork and time to play his strokes.

Ed Giddins has made big strides as a seam bowler, moving the ball away from the bat. With Franklyn Stephenson spurred on by the knowledge that this is his last chance to win something for Sussex - it is his last season - they will make plenty of opening batsmen jump.

Alan Wells is in fine form at No 4 although he made a pair against Glamorgan. But the top of the innings, in the hands of Bill Athey and Jamie Hall, is looking too wobbly and Newell may be over-placed at three. The portents are better, though, than for some time at Hove.

On this last day, Robert Rollins was lbw half forward to Salisbury, who then accounted for Peter Such and Darren Cousins and should have had John Childs stumped. As it was, Eddie Hemmings finished if off by holding on to a hard return catch from Mark Ilott.

Wars of the Roses, page 30