Cricket

Ollie Robinson's stellar performance propelled Sussex to a resounding eight-wicket victory over Lancashire in the T20 Blast quarterfinal at a sold-out Hove. Robinson, who was overlooked for England's Test squad, showcased his exceptional bowling skills, claiming two crucial wickets and executing a pinpoint run-out of Liam Livingstone.Despite Lancashire fielding seven internationals, Sussex dominated the match from the outset. Robinson struck with the first ball, dismissing Phil Salt, and later yorked Keaton Jennings to trigger a collapse. Livingstone briefly threatened with two sixes, but Robinson's direct hit ended his innings on 43.Sussex's bowlers, including Brad Currie, James Coles, and Jack Carson, kept Lancashire's batsmen in check, restricting them to a mere 114 runs. Robinson's 18 Blast wickets this season, coupled with his impressive Championship record, have solidified his status as a formidable bowler.Sussex captain Tymal Mills praised Robinson's contributions, highlighting his exceptional new-ball bowling and fielding skills. Mills believes Robinson's performance will enhance his reputation on the franchise circuit.Despite missing Jos Buttler, Lancashire's batting lineup failed to deliver, with Robinson's bowling proving too potent. Sussex's victory marks a significant turnaround from their struggles two years ago, when they finished near the bottom of the County Championship.The County Ground was packed to capacity, with the crowd enthusiastically welcoming former Sussex players Salt and Luke Wells. Sussex will face a tough challenge at Edgbaston without Jofra Archer, who is unavailable due to England's T20I series against Australia. However, their impressive performance in the quarterfinal has instilled confidence that they can end their 15-year wait for the Blast title.

Sussex's Ollie Robinson, overlooked for England's Test squad, made a resounding statement with a four-wicket haul as Northamptonshire were bowled out for a paltry 97 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Wantage Road.Robinson, who had previously taken four wickets against Yorkshire, found his rhythm after a shaky start, exploiting the movement on offer to dismantle the Steelbacks' batting lineup. Northamptonshire had raced to 43 without loss before Nathan McAndrew triggered a collapse with two wickets in two balls.Sussex had earlier been dismissed for 143, with Northamptonshire seamer Jack White claiming four wickets for 23 runs. The visitors struggled against the testing seam bowling on a green-tinged pitch, losing six wickets for 47 in 19 overs after lunch despite several dropped catches from the hosts.Tom Haines led Sussex's fightback in their second innings, hitting 45 as they closed on 83 for 2, 129 ahead. Haines had earlier been dismissed for 35 in Sussex's first innings, while Daniel Hughes top-scored with 35 before being caught behind.Northamptonshire's batting woes continued as Ricardo Vasconcelos was caught for 33, while McAndrew picked up two wickets in two balls thanks to stunning fielding from Haines. South African T20 international Matthew Breetzke was adjudged lbw to give McAndrew his fourth wicket.Prithvi Shaw looked impressive for Northamptonshire, hitting two boundaries off Sean Hunt before being dismissed by Robinson for 31. Robinson went on to claim three more wickets, including the key scalp of Shaw, as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 97.Sussex lost an early wicket in their second innings when Hughes was trapped lbw by White, but Haines took the attack to the Northamptonshire bowlers, smashing eight boundaries in a 63-run stand with Tom Alsop.

Ollie Robinson Concedes Record-Breaking 43 Runs in an Over in County ChampionshipOllie Robinson, the England fast bowler, etched his name into the history books on Wednesday when he conceded an astonishing 43 runs in a single over during a County Championship match between Sussex and Leicestershire.The incident occurred in the 59th over of Leicestershire's second innings, with the visitors chasing a daunting target of 464 runs. Louis Kimber, Leicestershire's number eight batter, was at the crease and had already reached his half-century.Robinson's over was a nightmare from the start. Kimber smashed two sixes and six boundaries, while Robinson overstepped three times, resulting in a two-run penalty for each no ball. The nine-ball over proved to be the most expensive in the 134-year history of the County Championship.Kimber reached his century with a boundary off Robinson's final delivery. Even when Robinson changed his angle by coming around the wicket, the batter remained unstoppable.Kimber's record-breaking innings came just two days after Shoaib Bashir had conceded 38 runs in an over during a county match between Surrey and Worcestershire. However, Robinson's feat has now eclipsed Bashir's record.Remarkably, Kimber was not even at the crease when the day's play began. He went into lunch unbeaten on 191 off just 92 deliveries, with Leicestershire requiring another 89 runs to secure victory.Robinson's record-breaking over is a testament to the unpredictable nature of cricket. Even the best bowlers can have off days, and when they do, the consequences can be severe.

The Hundred, England's premier 100-ball cricket tournament, has finalized its squads for the upcoming season, with several notable additions and replacements.Ollie Robinson, the England and Sussex seamer, has joined Trent Rockets as a Wildcard after previous stints with Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers. Ravi Bopara returns to London Spirit, where he impressed last year. Mason Crane, the legspinner, has been picked up by Welsh Fire following his loan move from Hampshire to Glamorgan. Dillon Pennington, the Nottinghamshire seamer on England's radar, will play for Northern Superchargers.These selections were based on performances in the Vitality Blast and Charlotte Edwards Cup. All eight men's and women's Hundred sides now have full squads ahead of the tournament's fourth edition, running from July 23 to August 18.Fran Wilson, an England Women's World Cup winner in 2017, will feature for Birmingham Phoenix. Sophie Luff (Southern Brave), Danielle Gregory (Manchester Originals), and Abi Freeborn (London Spirit) are among the other notable signings."I'm really happy to have been drafted by Southern Brave," said Luff. "The Hundred is a great competition to be a part of, so I'm really happy to have been picked up and it's especially great to have been selected by Charlotte Edwards."Six replacement players have also been announced. Tom Aspinwall and Scott Currie will step in at Manchester Originals for Fred Klaassen and Josh Tongue. Emma Jones will take over from Ailsa Lister at Birmingham Phoenix women, while Charli Knott will be available for Brave's first two women's matches in place of Smriti Mandhana. Laura Harris will deputise for Chamari Athapaththu for Oval Invincibles' opening two fixtures, while Suzie Bates stands in for Richa Ghosh for the first three games at Phoenix.

Durham's batting prowess was on full display as they amassed a formidable 445 for 4 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Essex. Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson led the charge with contrasting centuries, while David Bedingham's half-century contributed to the run-fest.Lees, the Durham opener, played a composed innings, reaching his century in 184 balls. His knock was characterized by a stylish chip for six and a few nervy edges early on, but he remained in control throughout. Robinson, on the other hand, adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring his fifty a ball after Lees' milestone. He finished the day unbeaten on 146, hitting four sixes in the process.Bedingham, who had scored four consecutive centuries before the Vitality Blast, looked set to add another to his tally. However, he fell short at 65, caught by Michael Pepper off Simon Harmer's bowling. Despite missing out on a century, Bedingham's contribution was significant, helping Durham build a solid foundation.Essex's only bright spot on an otherwise disappointing day was the performance of overseas debutant Eathan Bosch. The South African fast bowler struck with his second ball to dismiss Michael Jones and later accounted for Scott Borthwick. However, the Durham batsmen proved too strong for the Essex bowlers, who struggled to contain the flow of runs.The conditions at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, were ideal for batting, with blue skies, humid weather, a fast outfield, and a flat pitch. Durham took full advantage of these conditions, scoring at a brisk pace and securing four batting bonus points.

Sussex's relentless determination and Ollie Robinson's heroics propelled them to a thrilling 21-run victory over Yorkshire in a captivating Division Two encounter at Hove.Yorkshire, chasing a modest target of 183, appeared poised for victory at 158 for six, with Adam Lyth anchoring their innings with a resolute 73. However, Robinson's devastating spell turned the tide, claiming three wickets without conceding a run.Lyth's dismissal, caught behind off a sharp delivery, was followed by the brilliant catch of Jordan Thompson by Jack Carson at long leg. Robinson then bowled Dom Leech for a duck, leaving Yorkshire reeling at 158 for nine. Ben Coad's run-out by Fynn Hudson-Prentice sealed their fate.Sussex's triumph was a testament to their competitive spirit throughout the match. Despite being bowled out for 150 on the first morning, they fought back to reduce Yorkshire to 45 for four and 76 for five.Lyth's resilience and a partnership with Joe Root had given Yorkshire hope, but Sussex's bowlers remained relentless. Root's dismissal lbw to a straight delivery and George Hill's edge to the wicketkeeper left Yorkshire in a precarious position.James Wharton's inside-edge dislodged his leg bail, and Lyth's recovery efforts were thwarted by Carson's catch of Jonathan Tattersall. Robinson's brilliance then extinguished Yorkshire's hopes.In the morning, Sussex lost their last three wickets quickly, with Tom Alsop's dismissal for 86 and Robinson's injury-induced departure leaving them with a slender lead.Sussex's victory extended their unbeaten start to the season, while Yorkshire's search for their first win continues. Robinson's match-winning performance highlighted his exceptional talent and the resilience of the Sussex team.

Sussex Dominate Gloomy First Day Against Derbyshire in County ChampionshipEngland fast bowler Ollie Robinson led Sussex's charge on a gloomy first day of the Vitality County Championship match against Derbyshire at Derby. Despite not being at his best, Robinson bowled five consecutive maidens and claimed two wickets for 48 runs.Sussex won the toss and elected to bowl, taking advantage of the overcast conditions. Robinson removed Derbyshire skipper David Lloyd early on, trapping him lbw for a duck. Former Derbyshire allrounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice also impressed, taking two wickets for 52 runs, including the prized scalp of Luis Reece, who top-scored with 50 runs from 78 balls.Aneurin Donald provided some resistance for Derbyshire, hitting nine fours in his 44 runs off 46 balls. However, rain intervened shortly after 3pm, forcing an early end to the day's play with Derbyshire on 189 for 8.Before the start of play, both teams observed a minute's silence in memory of Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker, who tragically passed away at the age of 20.Under overcast skies and with the floodlights on, Sussex's bowlers made the most of the conditions. Robinson found his rhythm after a shaky start, while Jayden Seales also bowled well. Derbyshire's batsmen struggled to cope with the murky light and Sussex's disciplined bowling.Wayne Madsen, playing in his 600th innings for Derbyshire, was brilliantly caught behind by John Simpson off Tom Clark. Simpson then dropped Matt Lamb but redeemed himself by trapping him lbw two balls later.Robinson continued to bowl tightly after lunch, starting with two more maidens. Donald broke the spell with a flurry of boundaries, including three fours off Robinson in one over. Reece also reached his half-century, but Hudson-Prentice responded with a superb delivery that took his off stump.Robinson claimed his second wicket when Anuj Dal played across one the next ball. Donald's counterattacking innings ended in disappointment when he was caught by substitute fielder Oli Carter off Seale's bowling. Zak Chappell was run out in the next over, leaving Derbyshire on 163 for 8.Blair Tickner and Matt Critchley frustrated Sussex with some late resistance, but rain brought an early close to the day's play.

Essex and Durham shared the spoils on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash at the Seat Unique Riverside, with the home side posting a competitive 358 all out.Colin Ackermann anchored Durham's innings with a patient 112, his first century for the club. The former Leicestershire skipper's 294-minute vigil laid the foundation for Durham's total.Essex's bowlers toiled hard on a pitch conducive to batting, with Sam Cook and Jamie Porter claiming three wickets apiece. However, dropped catches proved costly for the visitors, with Ollie Robinson and Ackermann both reprieved.Robinson, on loan from Yorkshire, made the most of his lifeline, scoring 90 in his fifth consecutive first-class half-century this season. David Bedingham also contributed a brisk 52 before being bowled by a superb delivery from Porter.Durham lost both openers cheaply, but Ackermann and Robinson steadied the ship, putting on 118 for the third wicket. Robinson's dismissal to Simon Harmer triggered a mini-collapse, with Graham Clark and Brydon Carse also falling cheaply.Ackermann remained unfazed, reaching his century off 199 balls. However, he was eventually dismissed by Cook, who also accounted for Paul Coughlin. Snater wrapped up the innings with the final two wickets.Essex openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook safely negotiated the last two overs of the day to finish on five without loss.

Worcestershire's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dashed by a spirited Durham response on day one at Kidderminster. Despite Jason Holder's impressive bowling spell, Durham rallied behind Ollie Robinson's aggressive half-century to post a competitive 244.After Worcestershire's early strikes, Durham's middle order crumbled under Holder's pressure. However, Robinson's counterattacking innings, featuring three sixes and five fours, propelled Durham to a respectable total. Ben Raine and Matthew Potts provided valuable support, while Worcestershire's bowlers struggled to contain Robinson's onslaught.In reply, Worcestershire faced an early setback as Raine and Potts struck with the new ball. Jake Libby's unbeaten 35 offered some resistance, but the hosts were left trailing by 166 runs at the close of play.