Thomas stars in Sussex slump
Alfonso Thomas completed match figures of 10 for 88 as Somerset moved into the thick of the County Championship Division One title race with a nine-wicket victory over Sussex at Taunton
04-Aug-2011
Alfonso Thomas completed match figures of 10 for 88 as Somerset moved into the thick of the County Championship Division One title race with a nine-wicket victory over Sussex at Taunton.
The seamer added 4 for 28 to his six first-innings wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 134, having begun the third day four down on 94. Murali Kartik returned four for 46 to assist their downfall.
That left Somerset needing only 94 for their third successive Championship win. They cruised to the target off just 18.1 overs, Marcus Trescothick leading the way with 54 not out.
Somerset took 21 points to the four earned by Sussex and are generating real momentum in their bid for a first-ever title success, having been pipped by Nottinghamshire on the final day last season.
Play was delayed until 1.40pm by morning rain after which Michael Yardy and nightwatchman Joe Anyon played out four maidens before Thomas struck a double blow from the Old Pavilion End. In the space of three balls he had Yardy caught at third slip by Kartik for 2 and pinned Ben Brown leg-before to make it 94 for 6.
When Charl Willoughby replaced Thomas he needed only two deliveries to dispose of Ollie Rayner, caught behind for 8 fencing at a ball outside off stump. Anyon survived until the total was 118 when he was lbw for 11 playing defensively to Kartik, having faced 71 balls. Four runs later Monty Panesar suffered the same fate on the back foot to the Indian left-arm spinner.
Wayne Parnell was caught in the slips by Trescothick at the second attempt for 13 to give Thomas only his second 10-wicket match and the popular South African was given a generous ovation as he led the team off.
Trescothick had no intention of hanging around chasing such a small target and promptly hit the first two balls of Somerset's second innings, delivered by Parnell, for four. By tea he and Arul Suppiah had taken their opening stand to 54 from 10 overs and any lingering doubt about the outcome had disappeared.
Suppiah was caught and bowled by Rayner diving to his right for 22, but it was a minor blip as Trescothick eased a half-century off 46 balls, with two sixes and six fours.
