Twenty20 Update

A 17-run victory over the Essex Eagles revived host Sussex Sharks chances of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time after posting 163 for six on winning the toss and limiting the Eagles to 146 for five.

An impressive 55 from 45 balls by one-day standout Ravi Bopara was not enough to save the Eagles from their fourth Twenty20 Cup defeat under the Hove floodlights.  Essex needed 34 from the final three overs, but their hopes were dashed by medium-pacer Martin-Jenkins who removed Bopara in conceding only two runs from his final over.

The start of the Eagles inning was delayed for 40 minutes due to failure of half the floodlights and skipper Pettini fell in the first over to Martin-Jenkins.

Luke Wright continued his good form in the competition by firing 44 from only 26 balls after coming in first wicket down.  The young all-rounder fired five fours and two sixes, the second of which was over mid-wicket at the expense of spinner Kaneria, before skying Bopara to long-off.

Skipper Chris Adams, starting his innings in the 10th over, batted his side through by thumping an unbeaten 43 with four fours and a six over mid-wicket off Andy Bichel.  Adams, who added 38 for the fifth wicket in five overs with Andrew Hodd (14) was dropped twice in his knock.

Trescothick Scan

Somerset batsman Marcus Trescothick missed last Friday’s Tewnty20 Cup game against Glamorgan, opting for a precautionary scan to assess the extent of a groin injury. 

Director of Cricket at Somerset, Brian Rose, said, ‘We don’t think it’s serious but it’s serious enough to take a look at it.’

Somerset have three Twenty20 games in four days this week and it’s uncertain whether or not Trescothick will appear in any of them. 

The left-hander has been in prolific form in the four-day game this summer, scoaring 715 runs so far at an average of 65.