Saqlain's hat-trick puts Surrey back on track. (20 August 1999)

20 August 1999

Saqlain's hat-trick puts Surrey back on track

Dave Liverman for CricInfo

After a poor first day that at one point saw them at 38/5, championship leaders Surrey were back on track on Friday at Hove, thanks to young Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. Sussex resumed at 99/2 in reply to Surrey's first innings total of 224 but 11 overs later were all out for a meagre 115. Saqlain who had taken 2/13 overnight took a further 5 wickets including a hat trick, conceding just 6 runs. His final figures were 14-8-19 -7. After Wilton was caught at slip by Ally Brown, Saqlain bowled first Kirtley and then Lewry to complete the hat-trick. Sussex lost their last 7 wickets for 12 runs, Darrell Bicknell taking the other two wickets. A quick century from the other Bicknell, with help from a fifty from Ally Brown allowed Surrey to set Sussex an intimidating 400+ target. At the close, Sussex need 333 with 8 wickets still standing - and Saqlain to bowl tomorrow.

England U-19 continue their strong showing with a surprisingly comfortable win over the Australians. Asked to make the highest total of the match in the last innings, the youngsters cruised to an 8 wicket win, thanks to 95 from skipper Gough. In the other tour match, a series of declarations left the Zimbabwe dominated MCC side too little time to reach a target of 254, falling 51 runs short with only 2 wickets left as the Sri Lankan A team drew their final match of the tour.

Elsewhere in the county championship, Steve James advanced an unbeaten 259 as Glamorgan declared at a massive 654/4, Maynard contributing 81 in just 58 balls; in Notts reply, Afzaal fell just short of a century and Notts are 257 behind with a day to play. Australian pacer Kasprowicz took four quick wickets as Middlesex slumped to 46/6 against Leicestershire before recovering somewhat to 137 all out. Angus Fraser (5/44) was in the wickets when Leicestershire batted, but with an overnight lead of 257, they will look to declare tomorrow. Andy Flintoff was in the spotlight in the Roses match when, coming in with Lancashire 12/2, he blasted 160 from 162 balls, making over half their final total of 314. Yorkshire have their backs to the wall with 8 wickets left and 107 needed to make Lancashire bat again on the final day. The Hampshire - Warks and Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire matches never recovered from the loss of most of the first two days to rain, and petered out to tame draws. Other century makers on the day included Daley for Durham, and Turner for Somerset.