Sussex crash to dramatic defeat

Sussex crash to dramatic defeat

English champions Sussex are out of the inaugural Champions League after losing in dramatic fashion to South African side Eagles in Delhi.

Sussex made 119-7 before Ryan McLaren tied the match with a four from the final ball of the Eagles innings.

In the 'super over', the Eagles made 9-1, but CJ de Villiers castled Dwayne Smith and Rory Hamilton-Brown with his first two balls to clinch the win.

Earlier, Victoria also advanced despite a 15-run loss to Wayamba.

Luke Wright got Sussex off the a decent start, but after clubbing CJ de Villiers for a six and four, he lost his off-stump attempting another big hit to leg.

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Chris Nash was the first of Dillon du Preez's two victims, while De Villiers pulled off a spectacular caught and bowled to dismiss Hamilton-Brown.

Ed Joyce and captain Michael Yardy - back after missing his team's first match against New South Wales because of an illness - briefly held the innings together.

But it was the 29-run stand between Joyce (21 from 34) and Joe Gatting (25 from 22) which carried Sussex past the 100-run mark.

Opener Rilee Rossouw hit 65 off 62 balls in response on a low and slow surface as the Eagles chase began well.

Rossouw was dropped on 26 by James Kirtley at short fine-leg, while wicketkeeper Andy Hodd missed a chance offered by McLaren, who went on to score 16, on 10.

Chawla, who eventually accounted for McLaren, missed an obvious chance to run out Rossouw at the non-striker's end just after the batsman had reached his 50.

But Chawla did apply the brakes with his leg-breaks, and off-spinner Hamilton-Brown bowled Boeta Dippenaar and dismissed Rossouw in the penultimate over.

Yasir has been absolutely brilliant for us bowling at the death in the domestic season for us

Michael Yardy
The Eagles needed 12 off the last over, and Pakistan seamer Yasir Arafat conceded three singles from his first three deliveries before McLaren inside-edged for four off the fourth and then struck another four over mid-wicket to tie the scores.

Arafat was nominated for the 'super over' and conceded nine runs for the wicket of Rossouw - who was run out.

However, De Villiers bowled Dwayne Smith and Hamilton Brown with his first two deliveries as the Sharks' Champions League adventure was ended early.

Skipper Yardy conceded Sussex's lack of experience of the 'super over' format had cost them a place in the Super Eights.

"I think there were about 3,000 discussions at one point at the start of the super over," said Yardy.

"Yasir has been absolutely brilliant for us bowling at the death in the domestic season for us.

"We think he's one of the best in the world and he was always going to be the man for us.

"But we have never had a 'super over' before so we didn't really know what to do. But fair play to the Eagles, they played very well."