On a flat wicket, Australians pushed for a win and came close to a defeat in this warm-up match against Sussex at hove. A 12 over per side match, Australians elected to bat and posted a healthy 349 at the end of play on day 1.
Simon Katich played the lone hand among top order batsman but vice captain Michael Clarke's 45 and quick fire 69 from wicket keeper Brad Haddin took them part 300. Brett Lee unleashed some good shots towards the wee end of day's play and Australians finished with momentum. 349 for 7 wickets from 90 overs.
Captain Ricky Ponting, taking the positive decision, declared Australia's first innings in a bid to force a result in this 4 day game.
Susses batting, without seasoned players Murray Goodwin and Matt Prior, made good feist of Aussie first innings score and gave only a lead of 38 runs. Australians batted second with attitude, putting up good looking 418 for home team to chase. Sadly, pitch was too slow for extra pace of Brett Lee (bowled 14 no balls!) or spin of Nathan Hauritz (6 no balls and 158 runs from 38 overs).
Towards the end, Sussex were just 45 runs away from victory target with 3 wickets in hand when play was called off!
Australia first Innings (elected to bat) :-
| Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
| Philip Huges |
|
b Sandri |
15 |
26 |
3 |
0 |
| Simon Katich |
c Yardy |
b Sandri |
49 |
98 |
8 |
0 |
| Ricky Ponting |
c Hodd |
b Wright |
8 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
| Michael Hussey |
lbw |
b Kirtley |
32 |
48 |
6 |
0 |
| Michael Clarke |
c & b |
b Rayner |
45 |
78 |
4 |
1 |
| Marcus North |
c Sandri |
b Rayner |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
| Brad Haddin |
c Sandri |
b Rayner |
69 |
119 |
7 |
3 |
| Brett Lee |
not out |
|
47 |
80 |
5 |
1 |
| Nathan Hauritz |
not out |
|
65 |
78 |
12 |
0 |
| Peter Siddle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stuart Clark |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ben Hilfenhaus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total = 349 for 7 wickets, declared, in 90 overs |
| Bowlers :- |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Extras |
| James Kirtley |
18 |
4 |
61 |
1 |
5 no balls |
| Pepler Sandri |
13 |
1 |
73 |
3 |
3nb, 1wd |
| Luke Wright |
10 |
2 |
33 |
1 |
1 no ball |
| Robin Martin Jenkins |
12 |
2 |
56 |
0 |
-- |
| Ollie Rayner |
26 |
4 |
66 |
2 |
-- |
| Will Beer |
11 |
0 |
52 |
0 |
-- |
Sussex first Innings :-
| Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
| Michael Yardy |
lbw |
b Hilfenhaus |
5 |
14 |
1 |
0 |
| Chris Nash |
c Ponting |
b Clark |
45 |
102 |
9 |
0 |
| Ed Joyce |
c Haddin |
b Siddle |
15 |
26 |
2 |
0 |
| Carl Hopkinson |
c Haddin |
b Siddle |
8 |
14 |
2 |
0 |
| Rory Hamilton Brown |
|
b Lee |
37 |
54 |
4 |
1 |
| Luke Wright |
c Clarke |
b Lee |
22 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
| Andy Hodd |
c Clarke |
b Clark |
40 |
84 |
6 |
0 |
| Robin Martin Jenkins |
c Haddin |
c Clark |
35 |
80 |
4 |
0 |
| Ollie Rayner |
lbw |
b Katich |
25 |
34 |
4 |
0 |
| Will Beer |
not out |
|
28 |
59 |
4 |
0 |
| James Kirtley |
|
b Lee |
11 |
23 |
1 |
0 |
| Pepler Sandri |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total = 311 for 10 wickets in 80.2 overs |
| Bowlers :- |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Extras |
| Brett Lee |
13.2 |
2 |
53 |
3 |
8 no balls |
| Ben Hilfenhaus |
11 |
3 |
31 |
1 |
5 no balls |
| Peter Siddle |
15 |
3 |
33 |
2 |
5 no balls |
| Stuart Clark |
15 |
4 |
46 |
3 |
1 no ball |
| Nathan Hauritz |
18 |
0 |
98 |
0 |
3 no balls |
| Simon Katich |
8 |
1 |
32 |
1 |
-- |
Australia second Innings (lead by 38 runs) :-
| Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
| Philip Huges |
|
b Sandri |
78 |
127 |
11 |
0 |
| Simon Katich |
c Wright |
b Jenkins |
40 |
64 |
7 |
0 |
| Ricky Ponting |
c Beer |
b Kirtley |
71 |
76 |
10 |
1 |
| Michael Hussey |
|
b Beer |
40 |
103 |
4 |
0 |
| Marcus North |
lbw |
b Rayner |
11 |
50 |
1 |
0 |
| Michael Clarke |
not out |
|
75 |
104 |
11 |
1 |
| Brad Haddin |
c Brown |
b Rayner |
6 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
| Brett Lee |
|
b Beer |
33 |
42 |
5 |
0 |
| Nathan Hauritz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Peter Siddle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stuart Clark |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ben Hilfenhaus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total = 379 for 7 wickets, declared, in 95.1 overs |
| Bowlers :- |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Extras |
| James Kirtley |
20 |
6 |
61 |
1 |
-- |
| Pepler Sandri |
12 |
2 |
70 |
1 |
4 no balls |
| Ollie Rayner |
30 |
8 |
68 |
2 |
-- |
| Luke Wright |
7 |
0 |
33 |
0 |
1nb, 1wd/td>
|
| Robin Martin Jenkins |
10 |
1 |
52 |
1 |
-- |
| Will Beer |
16.1 |
1 |
77 |
2 |
-- |
Sussex Second Innings (target=418) :-
| Batsman |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
| Michael Yardy |
c Clarke |
b North |
67 |
120 |
11 |
0 |
| Chris Nash |
c North |
b Siddle |
27 |
63 |
4 |
0 |
| Ed Joyce |
c Hussey |
b North |
34 |
74 |
5 |
0 |
| Carl Hopkinson |
c Haddin |
b Hilfenhaus |
115 |
138 |
14 |
3 |
| Rory Hamilton Brown |
lbw |
b Lee |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
| Luke Wright |
|
b Hauritz |
35 |
50 |
7 |
0 |
| Andy Hodd |
not out |
|
37 |
67 |
4 |
0 |
| Robin Martin Jenkins |
|
c Hilfenhaus |
17 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
| Ollie Rayner |
not out |
|
4 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
| Will Beer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| James Kirtley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pepler Sandri |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total = 373 for 7 wickets in 89 overs.. match draw! |
| Bowlers :- |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Extras |
| Brett Lee |
14 |
0 |
51 |
1 |
6 no balls |
| Ben Hilfenhaus |
11 |
1 |
70 |
2 |
5nb, 1wd |
| Stuart Clark |
11 |
0 |
54 |
0 |
-- |
| Peter Siddle |
15 |
5 |
35 |
1 |
-- |
| Nathan Hauritz |
20 |
5 |
60 |
1 |
5 no balls |
| Marcus North |
17 |
0 |
80 |
2 |
-- |
| Simon Katich |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
-- |