Carson spins Sussex to victory over Glamorgan
Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson is among the Championship’s leading wicket-takers with 45
- Published
Vitality County Championship Division Two, Hove (day three)
Glamorgan 186 & 218: Ingram 71, Carlson 66; Robinson 3-38, Crocombe 3-44, Carson 3-67
Sussex 491 (132 overs): Simpson 117, Clark 112*, Hughes 83, Crocombe 54; Kellaway 5-142
Sussex (23 pts) beat Glamorgan (1 pt) by an innings and 87 runs
Division Two leaders Sussex chalked up their seventh Championship win of the season as they raced to victory over Glamorgan by an innings and 87 runs inside three days.
Spinner Jack Carson claimed a vital 3-67 as the visitors, facing a deficit of 305, were dismissed for 218.
Colin Ingram hit a fluent 71 and Kiran Carlson 66 but Ollie Robinson and Henry Crocombe also chipped in with three apiece for the promotion favourites.
Tom Clark finished on 112 not out as Sussex piled up 491, with 20 year old off-spinner Ben Kellaway claiming a maiden five-wicket haul.
The speedy victory earned Sussex extra time before their T20 Blast finals day date and extended their advantage over chasing Yorkshire to 21 points, putting pressure on the other contenders Middlesex.
John Simpson, Glamorgan’s destroyer on day two, could not resume his mastery as he fell lbw for 117 trying to sweep Kellaway.
But Fynn Hudson-Prentice (26) came out swinging hard to lessen the pressure on Clark as he approached three figures, reaching a gritty first hundred of the season off 220 balls with 11 fours.
Kellaway completed his five-for in satisfying fashion when Robinson (14) lost his middle stump, the seventh youngest Glamorgan player to achieve the feat- with record-holder James Harris watching.
But Glamorgan’s efforts to finish Sussex off resulted in an awkward 30-minute spell before lunch, with the unfortunate Asa Tribe completing a pair as he nicked Jaydev Unadkat behind.
Crocombe splattered Billy Root’s stumps for 19 but Ingram and Carlson looked to be flourishing as Ingram unleashed some glorious off-drives, although he was dropped at slip off Robinson on 35.
The spin of Jack Carson proved Ingram’s undoing as he skied a catch to cover, and with Sam Northeast lured into mishooking Crocombe to deep square, Sussex looked comfortably in control by tea.
A partnership of 57 between Carlson and Ben Kellaway (30) proved Glamorgan’s last real resistance, Carlson with his second 50 of the match.
But Carson dismissed both in successive overs with Robinson showing his international class as he charged in to trap Chris Cooke lbw and clean up the lower order, with Crocombe taking his third wicket to end the match.
Sussex coach Paul Farbrace told BBC Sussex Sport:
“I’m delighted, over the course of the three days we played a lot of really good cricket, since there were times when we had to show a great deal of skill but resilience as well.
“We’re all delighted that Tom Clark got a hundred, he’s got a high ceiling as a player but hasn’t scored the runs in championship cricket so everyone was willing him to a hundred.
“Our bowling throughout has been very good, Jack Carson’s getting better with every game with his wickets and his control, and our catching has been generally exceptional.
“We’re close (to promotion) but it’s not done. To win seven out of 12 is a fantastic effort but Middlesex and Yorkshire are making it tough.”
Glamorgan captain Sam Northeast told BBC Sport Wales:
“It wasn’t the few days we wanted, Sussex are a very good side, they’re flying in all competitions and we came up with a freight train against us, we didn’t start well enough and they simply outplayed us.
“With Eddie (Byrom) out injured, it’s left a bit of a hole and we’re still trying to figure that out, and look to the future at times.
“Kellers (Kellaway) is going to be a big part of the future and he bowled brilliantly, he’s going to be a fantastic player for Glamorgan.
“We haven’t played as well (in the championship) as we did at the start of the year, and we’re going to have to reflect on that.”