Sussex set big target as Australia flex

Sussex require 417 to win

Australia finished day three at Hove declaring on 379 for 7, leaving Sussex needing 418 for victory. Almost every batsman made a contribution for the tourists, the highlights being Phillip Hughes’ 78, Ricky Ponting’s 71 and Michael Clarke’s unbeaten 75. It was a hard day for the bowlers of Sussex, with young Sussex spinners Will Beer and Ollie Rayner taking two wickets apiece.

The ground was again a picture, as the clouds that threatened rain at the beginning of the day eventually gave way to the blazing sun that we have become accustomed to over the last few days. With today being a 7,000 capacity sell out, it promised to be an exciting day’s cricket with a good atmosphere.

The tourists started the day in fine form, with Hughes and Katich continuing to carve the Sussex bowling attack around. Hughes in particular looked very comfortable during his innings. He scored a great deals of runs through cover and point and hit eleven fours during his knock. He batted in his usual aggressive manner. After the day’s play, he said that he “just went out and played his way”. Hughes has been scoring runs for fun this year and he controversially enjoyed a stint with Middlesex before he met up with the rest of his Australian squad.

The score was 93 before Sussex took their first wicket, Katich caught at mid on by Luke Wright off the bowling of Robin Martin-Jenkins.

Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting then came to the crease to a mixture of cheers and jeers from the watching audience. Hughes and Ponting added a partnership of 63 before Hughes departed, as Pepler Sandri sent his middle stump cartwheeling for the second time in the game.

Ponting then delivered after a rare failure in the first innings, making 71 before he was caught by Wright from the bowling of ex-England test player James Kirtley. Marcus North was the Martlets next victim - LBW to Ollie Rayner for 11. North was the only Australian frontline batter to fail and his form could be a cause for concern for the tourists ahead of the first Ashes test on the 8th July in Cardiff.

Mike Hussey played a gritty knock to accumalate 40 before he was bowled by young Sussex leg spinner Will Beer - another product of the Sussex Academy. Aussie keeper Brad Haddin came and went adding only 6 runs to the visitor’s total, as Rayner took his second wicket of the day. Rayner caused a lot of problems for the tourists, and looked like he was enjoying bowling into the rough that had been created over the last three days. Rayner bowled thirty overs and has admitted feeling ‘tired’ after bowling against some of the world’s best. Hughes said in the press conference that the Australian left handers found Rayner difficult to cope with.

Then pace man Brett Lee came to the crease. Despite his fast bowling capabilities that he is widely known for, Lee is in form with the bat after scoring runs in the first innings. He again batted well and scored 33 before Beer bowled him with the last ball of the day.

While all this had been going on, Michael Clarke was showing why he has been a key feature in the Australian line up over the last few years. He ended the day on 75 not out after an innings that included 11 fours and 1 six. The Aussie vice captain looks like he is peaking just at the right time.

Tomorrow should be a fascinating day’s cricket, as the Sussex batters look to cause an unlikely upset and chase down 418. The Australians will be up for it and they have said they will “play hard” as they always do. It will be a big day for Nathan Hauritz who looks to bounce back from being dispatched in the first innings and take his first wicket of the tour. The Aussie pace bowlers are in stiff competition for a place in the starting line up in the first Test Match in just 12 days time.