Mossel Bay's Sussex Cricket Club gives George a walloping

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Sussex Cricket Club A team hosted George Cricket Club in their first Premier League home fixture of the 2024/25 season.

George won the toss and opted to bowl first in what seemed to be favourable bowling conditions at the D'Almeida cricket ground in Mossel Bay on Saturday, 2 November

In a repeat of the previous match last week the Sussex innings started off at a pedestrian pace and they were on 19/2 after eight overs.

Partnership

The third wicket partnership of 73 runs between the workhorse captain, Rowan Groenewald (39 runs), and young gun Heath Richards (30 runs) shifted the momentum in Sussex's favour.

Heath is a SWD T20 player and recently played for the Mumbai Indians of New York in Major League Cricket, the United States' professional T20 league.

Heath Richards, Lindl Trimm (35 runs off 27 balls) and Ravin-Lee Kemmies (43 runs off 31 balls) provided an injection in the scoring rate in the second part of the innings, scoring at more than a 100% strike rate.

Sussex eventually ended their innings on 238/8 after 50 overs.

In trouble

The George team found themselves in trouble early on as they were on 42/4 in the 11th over. Constant fall of wickets

The innings never gained momentum, due to the constant fall of wickets.

Sussex's combined team bowling effort was exemplary, with all the bowlers chipping in and taking wickets. Heath and Ravin-Lee were in top form, picking up three wickets each.

George were dismissed for 120 runs in the 36th over.

Bonus point

Sussex secured a bonus point, with the victory margin of 118 runs.

The match followed a similar trend as the first game of the season and the team is looking to continue building momentum.

Groenewald thanked the supporters who encouraged the team and invited them to the next home game against the league champions, Pacaltsdorp CC, on 16 November.

The Sussex A team is travelling to Knysna tomorrow, Saturday 9 November, to face Knysna Cavaliers.

The B team is playing away in George against Thembalethu B on Sunday, 10 November.

The winning Sussex A team. BELOW: Heath Richards.