Sussex CCC Match Preview - 07/08/2022

The Foxes are looking for a third successive away triumph in the Royal London Cup, after backing up their opening round win against Surrey with victory over Middlesex on Thursday.

Overseas star Wiaan Mulder was at the peak of his powers, securing his List A career-bests with both bat and ball, while a maiden fifty for Nat Bowley also helped the Foxes to emerge victorious by 15 runs at Radlett.

Last Time We Met:

You have to rewind 17 years, and to a different variation of the format, to find the last List A meeting between the two sides. It was 17 years ago this month that Leicestershire won a National League Division Two clash at Grace Road by five wickets.

In a 45-over aside fixture, the Foxes chased down a target of 187 with seven balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 92 from Indian all-rounder Dinesh Mongia, while now Head Coach Paul Nixon ended 26 not out at the other end.

Ottis Gibson had earlier starred with the ball, claiming four for 39 from his nine overs to restrict Sussex to 186 all out: Michael Yardy top-scoring with 58.

In Focus:

It will come as little to surprise to many Foxes fans that Wiaan Mulder is the focus of attention at the moment. Across his last five innings with the bat, he is averaging 318.5, truly remarkable form.

The 24-year-old backed up his unbeaten 71 in the opening round win at Surrey by posting List A career bests with both bat and ball against Middlesex on Thursday. A knock of 116*, followed by four for 47 from ten overs, proved to be invaluable match-winning contributions. A paragon of an all-rounder.

Mulder enjoys Hove too, having posted his career-best score of 235 not out in the County Championship fixture their last month. If he has a similar day out by the seaside, the Foxes will be riding the crest of a wave.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Another 24-year-old who can contribute with bat and ball is Delray Rawlins. The all-rounder whacked 91 from 64 balls, before taking 3 for 50 from ten overs, in Sussex’s 51-run win over Gloucestershire on Friday.

It backed up a score of 82 from 66 balls in the Sharks’ warm-up win over Oxfordshire, with Rawlins now averaging just shy of 30 while striking at 114.8 in List A cricket.

Unlike Mulder, however, he was setting records at Hove last month for less favourable reasons, with his returns of 0 for 223 the most expensive figures without taking a wicket in County Championship history.

Squad:

Leicestershire Foxes: Bowley, Hendricks, Hill *, Kimber, Lilley, Mulder, Patel, Scriven, Steel, Swindells +, Walker, Welch, Wright.