Sussex 386 beat Middlesex 105 and 154 by an innings and 127 runs
Sussex 23 points, Middlesex 1 point
Sussex beat Middlesex by an innings and 127 runs to start the LV County Championship season in style at the County Ground in Hove.
Victory was accomplished in three days after a day’s play was lost to rain on Monday.
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior helped set up the win, scoring 125 runs in just under four hours, including 19 fours and a six.
His innings settled the home side who were 42-3 when he came to the crease and 253-7 when he returned to the dressing room.
Jimmy Anyon notched up a helpful half century.
The Sussex innings of 386 followed the visitors’ first innings total of 105. Dawid Malan’s 35 was the top score and he was one of only three Middlesex players to reach double figures.
Jon Lewis took four wickets for 34 runs and Steve Magoffin took 3-21.
Middlesex began their second innings needing 282 runs just to bring Sussex back out to bat. The target proved too much.
On the final day today (Wednesday 9 April) the visitors resumed on 57-1 hoping to save the match.
But impressive bowling from Anyon, Jon Lewis and Steve Magoffin ensured that it was all over by lunchtime.
Chris Rogers managed a doughty 41 before edging behind to wicketkeeper Ben Brown off Anyon.
After the loss of Rogers the remaining wickets tumbled. Middlesex lost their next seven batsmen for 33 runs, making 154 in total.
Tim Murtagh and Steven Finn staged a last-wicket rally with Finn hitting Middlesex’s only six of the match. But it couldn’t last, with Magoffin claiming Finn’s wicket.
His 5-56 gave match figures of 8-77. Lewis took 2-21 and Anyon took 3-67.
Sussex face Warwickshire at Edgbaston in their next County Championship fixture. The match begins on Sunday (13 April).
