Sussex Sharks slumped to a 100 run defeat against Essex as their miserable T20 Blast campaign continued at Hove.

In reply to Essex’s 204 - 6 from their 20 overs, Sussex were dismissed for 104 with 2.3 overs of their innings remaining.

The hosts collapsed to 34-5 in the face of an outstanding spell of powerplay bowling from the returning Sam Cook (4-7).

Harrison Ward (11) and Dan Hughes (2) both skied catches into the leg side in Cook’s first over, before George Thomas (3) was expertly caught by the diving Luc Benkenstein off Shane Snater (1-28).

Early success for Sussex in the Essex innings - but the Sharks' smiles didn't last | Picture by Eva Gilbert

placeholder image — Early success for Sussex in the Essex innings - but the Sharks' smiles didn't last | Picture by Eva Gilbert

John Simpson (2) became the fourth man to fall inside the first six overs, with Oli Carter (11) following in the eighth over, after edging Mackenzie Jones (2 - 9) through to Michael Pepper.

Cameos from Tom Alsop (35) and Danny Briggs (24) ensured that any fears of a record Sussex T20 loss were allayed, only for the Sharks’ day to be summed up when Briggs was run out at the non-striker’s end by Simon Harmer.

The end ultimately came quickly for Sussex, who lost their last three wickets for two runs.

Harmer (2-17) removed Alsop and Sharks skipper Tymal Mills in consecutive deliveries, allowing Cook to finish off Essex’s demolition job by removing Henry Crocombe’s (4) leg stump.

An extraordinary final two overs had earlier propelled Essex past 200 and to what eventually proved to be an unassailable total.

Simon Harmer (46*) and Matt Critchley (34) plundered 48 runs from the final 12 balls, including 31 from Henry Crocombe’s (1 - 58) final over.

Harmer hit three fours and three sixes from the last over, turning a position of weakness into one of strength for the visitors.

Sussex had done well to drag Essex back, following a strong Powerplay, only to let it slip in the final few overs.

After Mills (2-42) removed Paul Walter (12) early on, Pepper (47) made the most of being dropped by Simpson to give his side a solid platform.

Once he was removed by Briggs (1-28), Sussex chipped away throughout the middle overs and reduced Essex to 117 - 5, when Simon Fernandes (3) was well caught by Ward off Jack Carson (1-36) at deep square leg.

87 runs from the next 5.3 overs undid much of Sussex’s hard work though and they came up woefully short with the bat.

The Sharks move on to face Surrey at The Oval on Wednesday with only pride to play for.

…

FARBRACE RUES WHERE IT WENT WRONG

Paul Farbrace lamented Sussex’s death bowling execution in their 100 run defeat to Essex.

His side were well positioned with Essex 117 - 5 after 14.3 overs of their innings, only for the visitors to plunder 87 runs from the final 33 deliveries.

Visiting skipper Simon Harmer’s 46* helped Essex up to 204 - 6 from their 20 overs, with the Sharks slumping to 104 all out in reply.

When asked what went wrong in the back end of the Essex innings, the Sussex Head Coach replied: “Execution, 100%.

“People don’t run up and mean to bowl a good length ball, outside off stump and get carted for six,” he said. “It was execution and under pressure that can happen sometimes.”

All three of the Sussex seamers returned expensive figures, however - Essex reserved the worst of the punishment for Henry Crocombe. Just two days after it was announced that Crocombe would be swapping his boyhood county for Surrey next season, the 24-year-old was hammered for 58 runs in his four overs (1 - 58).

This included the second most expensive over in Sussex’s T20 history, with Harmer smashing 31 from the final over of the innings.

“That’s part and parcel of being a bowler,” said Farbrace. “Everyone will get taken down from time to time, that’s the nature of the game.

“Henry will cope with that, he’s a great kid, nothings changes from that point of view. It might be him one day and it could be somebody else the next.”

Farbrace backed Crocombe to bounce back, with the earliest opportunity being Sussex’s trip to Crocombe’s new county on Wednesday.

“He’s had a fair bit of media coverage this week, everyone wanted to sign him. He’s left, he’s gone to one of the biggest, arguably the biggest county in the country, and sometimes that’s the way cricket pays you back, it bites you in the backside,” he said.

“He’s got enough help and support, he’ll be fine and we’ll all look after him.”

The Sharks will travel to London on Wednesday with only pride to play for, given their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages are now over.