SUSSEX v WARWICKS DAY 3: Chris Jordan brings Sussex victory with unbeaten half century

Chris Jordan blasted an unbeaten 56 off just 34 balls to steer Sussex to a remarkable one-wicket win over Warwickshire in the LV County Championship at Hove.
Sussex fast bowler Chris Jordan speaks to the press after the victory against Warwickshire. SUS-140725-134035002Sussex fast bowler Chris Jordan speaks to the press after the victory against Warwickshire. SUS-140725-134035002
Sussex fast bowler Chris Jordan speaks to the press after the victory against Warwickshire. SUS-140725-134035002

The England all-rounder hit eight fours and two sixes, the second of which off Chris Wright sealed a victory that looked highly improbable when Sussex were 45 for 5 chasing 190 to win.

But Ben Brown, with 53 from 61 balls, gave them hope and Jordan produced an eye-catching display of clean hitting to leave Warwickshire stunned.

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He had a reprieve on 44 when Keith Barker dropped a straightforward catch at long leg off Boyd Rankin and Jordan made the most of his luck.

The balance seemed to have tipped in Warwickshire’s favour in the next over when Boyd Rankin struck twice in four balls. Ollie Robinson feathered an edge and Steve Magoffin lost his leg stump to leave Sussex needing 15 to win with only last man Matthew Hobden to come.

Hobden survived the final ball of the over and in the next Jordan drilled Wright to the long on boundary before a bouncer sailed high over wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose for four byes. That left Sussex needing six to win and Jordan smashed the next ball from Wright back over his head for a straight six.

Warwickshire will wonder how they lost. Wright produced an excellent new ball spell before lunch, taking 3 for 20 from eight overs including both openers Chris Nash (2) and Luke Wells (19) before he bowled Harry Finch for one.

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Sussex skipper Ed Joyce, who had been dropped on nought, fell to the first ball after the resumption for 13 and there was little Luke Wright could do about the ball from Rikki Clarke who spat off a length and was caught at second slip off the shoulder of his bat.

JPCT 210513 Sussex County cricket club at Horsham. Chris Jordan. Photo by Derek Martin ENGPPP00420130522103551JPCT 210513 Sussex County cricket club at Horsham. Chris Jordan. Photo by Derek Martin ENGPPP00420130522103551
JPCT 210513 Sussex County cricket club at Horsham. Chris Jordan. Photo by Derek Martin ENGPPP00420130522103551

Sussex looked doomed but Craig Cachopa rode his luck to help Brown add 58 for the eighth wicket. Brown played his shots from the off, launching Barker onto the roof of a hospitality tent as the sixth wicket pair began to warm to their task.

Cachopa (20) holed out to long on when Jeetan Patel was brought into the attack and Warwickshire skipper seemed to have made another crucial bowling change when he brought back Rankin and Brown pulled his second ball to Barker on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

But by then Jordan was finding his range and it was his uncomplicated display of clean hitting on a pitch which continued to offer extravagant sideways movement that made the difference.

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Earlier, Warwickshire’s last three wickets added 20 runs before they were bowled out for 200 in their second innings. Jordan picked up two wickets but on this occasion it was hit batting that proved decisive.

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