Luke Wright passed 1,000 runs in a season for the first time in his 13-year first-class career to help Sussex take charge of their crunch match against Worcestershire in the fight to avoid relegation.
Bracketed as a white-ball junkie having played 50 ODIs and 51 T20 internationals for England, it is a sizeable monkey off his back. Wright will have a smaller, slightly less irritating weight on his conscience now as he sits unbeaten overnight on 98, courtesy of 17 boundaries.
Currently his tally of first-class centuries is a relatively low 15, an oddity considering his career average is a rounded decimal place away from 40. Even if he fails to make it 16 on Thursday, the average will end up on the right side of 40.
Wright’s was a stationary start, taking 23 deliveries to get off the mark and then needing only 58 more to reach 50. On a pitch that was slow and an outfield that demanded a little bit extra behind each shot, Wright focused on getting forward and letting his strong hands do the rest. He even showed some deft touches, particularly against Joe Leach, whom he picked off behind point with ease as the seamer suffered a rare blip with the ball. Wright then hit the game’s first six when he sent Jack Shantry back over his head.
However, it was not just Wright who was putting Worcestershire to the sword. With the help of Ben Brown, the pair saw out the day having scored 157 between them to put Sussex ahead by 41.
They certainly thrive together. Last season they claimed the Sussex sixth-wicket record with 335 against Durham. They already have two century partnerships in 2015 – 146 and 120 against Hampshire, at The Ageas Bowl and Hove, respectively. Coming together with 94 on the board in the afternoon session here, they took 23.3 overs to reach three figures for a third time this term.
They were brought together in unfortunate circumstances with Chris Nash retiring hurt after top-edging a Charlie Morris short ball into his helmet. Nash looked dazed, though was able to maintain his footing as he took off his helmet and walked away from the crease to collect himself. Mark Robinson, Sussex’s cricket manager, confirmed at stumps that Nash was “slightly concussed” and could be next man in with some overnight rest – a luxury afforded to him by the work of Wright and Brown.
“They contrasted each other quite nicely,” said Robinson. “Both of them like to go at it but they have different strengths: Wrighty is dangerous off the front foot while Brown is good off the back foot and likes to score in funny areas, as your storybook keeper does.”
As with all good batting partners, it is hard to tell whether Wright or Brown actually call for or against runs between the wickets. There is an almost telepathic understanding between the two: on a handful of occasions Wright drove straight to fielders, yet singles were taken with ease, as Brown ensured he was quick to match his partner’s intentions.
The key benefit of their time together, according to Robinson, is that they have allowed Sussex to make up for the fact that rain has stolen almost 50 overs of play in the first two days of this match.
Worcestershire started the day in good spirits as Alex Gidman and Morris managed to grab a solitary batting point before they were bowled out for 210. Sussex were then 35 for two in the 13th over. Shantry took his 50th Division One wicket of the season thanks to a stunning catch by Tom Fell at leg-slip and Leach squared up Luke Wells from around the wicket for a catch through to the wicket-keeper Ben Cox.
The only further wicket to fall was Matt Machan, who chipped Morris tamely to Fell at short-cover, as Sussex seized the initiative.
