Clydesdale Bank 40, Horsham
Sussex Sharks 399-4 beat Worcestershire Royals 319 by 80 runs
By Jack Bradshaw
Centuries from Ed Joyce and Joe Gatting helped Sussex reach their highest ever 40-over total as they thrashed Worcestershire at Horsham.
Sussex racked up 399-4 as they recorded their eighth straight win in the Clydesdale Bank 40 and extended their lead at the top of Group A to four points.
Joyce (120) and Gatting (122) put on an opening stand of 210 and smashed 33 boundaries between them including nine sixes.
And there was no respite for the Royals as first, Lou Vincent came in and struck a blistering 71 from 43 deliveries, before Murray Goodwin hit 38 off 16 balls to set up the hosts’ best ever total in the competition.
Bottom-side Worcestershire were to die trying though, as opener Moeen Ali hit a magnificent 158 off only 92 balls to give the visitors a chance.
But once skipper Michael Yardy had him stumped with the score 264-5, the innings fell away with the Royals eventually coming up 80 runs short.
The match saw the highest ever aggregate run total in a 40-over game and leaves Sussex needing only one more win to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.
The Sharks will be hoping to make sure they advance when they travel to Yorkshire on Sunday (21 August).
