County Championship 2024: Luke Procter and Karun Nair Shine Amidst Weather Interruptions

At Hove, Sussex and Northants concluded their Division Two Vitality County Championship match with equal standings on the second day. With further time wasted due to rain and poor light, a draw is the most likely outcome. Northants were 292 for 7 at the end of play.

Luke Procter and Karun Nair both looked well as the Northants resumed on 95 for 2. When Nair slash-cut Seales over backward-point for six, then cover-drove the next delivery for four, he elevated the partnership to fifty.

Ollie Robinson bowled with five slips from the Cromwell Road end as Sussex skipper John Simpson tried a variety of quirky fields in an attempt to get anything to happen. Although that put pressure on the Northants batsmen, it also created a lot of openings in the field, necessitating accurate length strikes from the bowlers.

It was almost a gift when Northants lost their third wicket at 177. After batting with elegant elegance for his fifty-seven, Nair smashed an average delivery to short extra-cover off the bowl of Danny Lamb, who was in the middle of an impressive sprint down the hill, when James Coles made a superb catch. After lunch, Northants were 202 for 3, with Procter on 82 and George Bartlett, who had signed a contract from Somerset at the close of the previous season, looked anxious as he made his debut on 17.

Following the interval, Sussex picked up the pace. Coles bowled to a different attacking field at a faster speed than normal, using his slow left-arm deliveries. Especially Bartlett struggled against him, but the batter answered back when he hit Jack Carson for four in a row.

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It was surprising that Tom Clark caught the Northants captain, who was trying to drive Coles, at first slip at 222, as he appeared more controlled than his partner. Procter’s 225-ball 92 included eight fours and a six.

After that, Sussex was given the new ball. On the second delivery, Seales got Bartlett caught at third slip by Coles for 27, bringing the score to 228 for 5. The delivery was superb, forming into the batters and then sailing off the field.

After twenty runs, Robinson eventually took a first wicket in his 18th over of the innings when he had Rob Keogh caught at first slip by Tom Alsop. In ten overs, Northants had conceded three wickets. However, they quickly gained their first batting point, much to their relief. It was not until their fourth match that Northants secured their first batting point since being demoted from Division One the previous season.

As the light began to go, Sussex turned back to their spinners, and Coles claimed his second wicket when Saif Zaib was well taken at short leg by Oli Carter. However, the players were forced off the field with tea just around the corner by the approaching rain. In just over an hour, play was called off for the day.