Anyon and Panesar give Sussex the edge
Worcestershire squandered a decent position on the first day of their County Championship match at Sussex despite a debut half-century from teenager Aneesh Kapil
10-Aug-2011
Worcestershire squandered a decent position on the first day of their County Championship match at Sussex despite a debut half-century from teenager Aneesh Kapil.
The 18-year-old from Wolverhampton made an attractive 54 in his first four-day
game while skipper Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali also made half-centuries.
When Kapil and Dutchman Alex Kervezee were adding 88 for the fifth wicket
either side of tea to take their side to 244 for 4, Sussex's decision to bowl
first looked a mistake. But the tide turned when Kervezee chanced his arm looking for a third run which would have taken him to 50 and was run out by Joe Gatting's accurate return
running round from third man.
Worcestershire collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 56 runs and were
bowled out for 290. That left Sussex six overs to negotiate before stumps and Ed Joyce and Gatting, promoted to open in the absence of Chris Nash who is with England Lions,
survived comfortably to close on 16 for none.
Sussex had been hoping to exploit any early dampness in the wicket and the
immediate signs were good. Matt Pardoe feathered a catch behind when James Anyon
seamed one away in his first over and then Vikram Solanki was beaten for pace
and bowled for a duck by Anyon to leave Worcestershire six for two.
Mitchell and Moeen rebuilt in an excellent stand of 143 in 43 overs. Moeen was
particularly productive through the covers while his more pragmatic partner
accumulated steadily to blunt a Sussex side who used six bowlers before lunch in
search of another breakthrough.
It finally came thanks to Monty Panesar, who bowled another long, probing spell
which was rewarded with three wickets. Mitchell (66) was leg before aiming
towards mid-wicket and then Moeen (71) was surprised by a ball which spun back
into him and gave a catch to wicketkeeper Ben Brown.
Kapil showed few nerves, top-edging a six when Anyon tried to test him against
the short ball, and he reached his 50 with his fifth four. A pull off Kirk
Wernars brought him a sixth boundary but he perished to a gully catch off the
next ball and was sixth out.
Sussex then encountered little resistance from the tail. Panesar returned and
immediately had Gareth Andrew well taken by the diving Mike Yardy at slip.
Anyon finished with four for 71 after picking up two wickets with the second
new ball while Wayne Parnell had Saeed Ajmal well caught at third slip off a
flat-footed waft outside off stump.