Goodwin's genius gives Sussex title in final-ball thriller
Nottinghamshire 226-7; Sussex 229-8
Sussex won by two wickets
* Richard Rae at Trent Bridge
* The Guardian,
* Monday September 15 2008
Sussex pulled off an extraordinary comeback to mark the end of Chris Adams' tenure as captain by securing the Pro40 title, their sixth trophy in as many years. At 130 for eight chasing 227, the Sharks appeared all but sunk, but an unbeaten partnership of 99 in 10 overs between Murray Goodwin and the Pakistan international fast bowler Mohammed Sami, culminating when Goodwin hit the final ball of the match for six, saw Sussex home.
The Nottinghamshire players were understandably stunned, sinking to their knees in disbelief. After Samit Patel had led them to a challenging total, and then together with Graeme Swann, spun his way through the Sussex top and middle order, the trophy looked to be in the bag for the Outlaws.
Chris Read's decision to bat had been based on the hope that a good-looking pitch would be flatter and have more pace, but both Sami and James Kirtley found enough movement to make early inroads, Sami bringing his fifth delivery back in to bowl Swann, and Kirtley getting more bounce than Mark Wagh anticipated to induce an edge to gully.
Patel was missed by Sami on 10, and it proved expensive for the Sharks as the 23-year-old went on to hit five fours and two sixes before driving Rory Hamilton-Brown into the hands of Dwayne Smith at long-on on 78. His dismissal might have caused the Notts' innings to stall, the more so because it was quickly followed by that of Ashwell Prince for a less than sparkling 33, but Read and Andre Adams hit 45 from the final five overs.
The Sharks began badly, and when Patel and Swann both got the ball to turn sharply, there seemed no way back after Michael Yardy was bowled by Patel, stepping back to cut a delivery that spun a long way. But Goodwin was joined by Sami, and with the spinners having run out of overs, they kept Sussex in the game until launching a late assault. They still needed 16 off the final over, bowled by Charlie Shreck, and three off the final ball, but Shreck pitched it up and Goodwin launched into the stands at long-on.
"It was very difficult against the spinners, and we needed a little luck, but I had fantastic support from Mohammed Sami and things went my way today," said Goodwin, as the first celebratory chorus of Sussex by the Sea rang out in the background. The Zimbabwean's 87 was hit off 64 balls, and Sami's 32 came off 25.
Even the seasoned Adams, who confirmed he would be standing down as skipper at the end of the season, was still shaking his head. "It doesn't matter how long you play this game, it always retains the capacity to surprise you," he said.
Nottinghamshire 226-7; Sussex 229-8
Sussex won by two wickets
* Richard Rae at Trent Bridge
* The Guardian,
* Monday September 15 2008
Sussex pulled off an extraordinary comeback to mark the end of Chris Adams' tenure as captain by securing the Pro40 title, their sixth trophy in as many years. At 130 for eight chasing 227, the Sharks appeared all but sunk, but an unbeaten partnership of 99 in 10 overs between Murray Goodwin and the Pakistan international fast bowler Mohammed Sami, culminating when Goodwin hit the final ball of the match for six, saw Sussex home.
The Nottinghamshire players were understandably stunned, sinking to their knees in disbelief. After Samit Patel had led them to a challenging total, and then together with Graeme Swann, spun his way through the Sussex top and middle order, the trophy looked to be in the bag for the Outlaws.
Chris Read's decision to bat had been based on the hope that a good-looking pitch would be flatter and have more pace, but both Sami and James Kirtley found enough movement to make early inroads, Sami bringing his fifth delivery back in to bowl Swann, and Kirtley getting more bounce than Mark Wagh anticipated to induce an edge to gully.
Patel was missed by Sami on 10, and it proved expensive for the Sharks as the 23-year-old went on to hit five fours and two sixes before driving Rory Hamilton-Brown into the hands of Dwayne Smith at long-on on 78. His dismissal might have caused the Notts' innings to stall, the more so because it was quickly followed by that of Ashwell Prince for a less than sparkling 33, but Read and Andre Adams hit 45 from the final five overs.
The Sharks began badly, and when Patel and Swann both got the ball to turn sharply, there seemed no way back after Michael Yardy was bowled by Patel, stepping back to cut a delivery that spun a long way. But Goodwin was joined by Sami, and with the spinners having run out of overs, they kept Sussex in the game until launching a late assault. They still needed 16 off the final over, bowled by Charlie Shreck, and three off the final ball, but Shreck pitched it up and Goodwin launched into the stands at long-on.
"It was very difficult against the spinners, and we needed a little luck, but I had fantastic support from Mohammed Sami and things went my way today," said Goodwin, as the first celebratory chorus of Sussex by the Sea rang out in the background. The Zimbabwean's 87 was hit off 64 balls, and Sami's 32 came off 25.
Even the seasoned Adams, who confirmed he would be standing down as skipper at the end of the season, was still shaking his head. "It doesn't matter how long you play this game, it always retains the capacity to surprise you," he said.
) Chris Adams' post-match speech? The big jessie! 
Comment