Two Chris's demolish Sussex
by Alan Rowley, 24th August 2003

Chris Cairns and Chris Read demolished the Sussex attack at Trent Bridge on Sunday in a 71 run National Cricket League victory. The two Chris's put on a record-breaking unbeaten 167 for the sixth wicket.

The pair came together with the Notts score on 125 for 5, after Robin Martin-Jenkins had ripped through the home team openers. Paul Franks (38) and Bilal Shafayat (26) started briskly, but signs of yet another middle order collapse were beginning to show when Cairns stepped to the wicket.

The Kiwi put on a display reminiscent of the Derbyshire demolition with a 72 ball 91, including 4 fours and 5 sixes. Not to be outdone, Read contributed a 73 ball 79, which included 8 fours and 2 sixes. Why this guy isn't playing for England I will never know!

The holiday crowd were greeted to some tremendous hitting from both players as they peppered the upper decks and sent balls crashing into the advertising hoardings. Sussex used seven bowlers in a vain attempt to dislodge the pair.

In reply, Sussex never had a hope, especially after openers Richard Montgomerie (20) and Murray Goodwin (22) had fallen to Cairns and Richard Logan with the score on 55. A brief revival took place whilst Philip Cottey (36) and Bas Zuiderent (47) were together, but the visitors were falling further behind with each over.

Sussex were finally all out in the last over for 221, which on other days would have been a winning score. However, Cairns and Read ensured that the visitors travelled back to the South wondering what had hit them.

Scores:
Nottinghamshire 292 for 5 (45 overs) Cairns 91no, Read 79no, Martin-Jenkins 4 for 50
Sussex 221 all out (44.3 overs) Zuiderent 47, Cairns 3 for 48, Lucas 3 for 52