Lancashire 590; Sussex 290 and 459 for 9
Match drawn
Two innings of differing character, but each remarkable in its own way, conspired to deprive Lancashire of the win that would have given them their best start to a county season in 16 years. With Sussex needing to bat out the day to save the match, Ed Joyce made 141 in 98 overs, an innings of great technical merit and concentration. When he was dismissed, eighth out right on the tea interval, and the ninth wicket fell shortly after, the game seemed up for Sussex, who had a lead, but of 69 with plenty of overs to be bowled.
Instead, Lancashire failed to take another wicket in more than 24 overs, as Naved "Great Barry" Arif, the 29-year-old Pakistani who had never before made a first-class half-century, not only achieved that but, when he swept an off-break from the part-time spinner Steven Croft to the boundary in front of the dressing room, reached a century that saved the game. As the ball sped away, he raised his arms aloft, and then kissed the turf before shaking hands with the weary Lancashire players, who had been in the field for seven sessions, and marching triumphantly from the field.
With him was Monty Panesar, who reprised his memorable Cardiff rearguard against Australia in 2009 by batting for 66 balls for his 17, the last-wicket stand, unbroken, worth 90 runs. It had been a superb fightback, Sussex finishing their second innings on 459 for nine, with 10 scheduled overs remaining.
All day, Lancashire had been forced to dig deep into their resources in pursuit of their wickets. Two wickets first thing for Glen Chapple were offset when he came a cropper in his follow-through, damaging his right knee in the process. He was able to continue, although clearly restricted. That was not helpful.
Of more concern, however, was Sajid Mahmood. In the first Sussex innings Mahmood had sent down a beamer to Rana Naved, for which he duly received a warning. In the second innings, with his second delivery with the second new ball, he did so again to Joyce, not an attempted slower ball that slipped but something far nastier if unintentional.
Joyce was hit on the shoulder and went down as if shot by an elephant gun, although he eventually got to his feet and was able to continue. Mahmood had, in so doing, bowled his last delivery of the match. Thus, Lancashire had been deprived of their main strike bowlers.
Much then rested on Gary Keedy, who flighted the ball nicely, found a bit of turn, and succeeded in luring Murray Goodwin, the first-innings centurion, down the pitch, bowling Andy Hodd and forcing Rana Naved into one slog too many. It came at a cost though, for he ploughed through 55 overs to take four for 200, the most expensive bowling of his career, figures undone somewhat by Naved Arif, whose four sixes included a couple deposited into neighbouring gardens.
Earlier, Joyce, ugly in his crouched stance but effective in movement, had played beautifully over six and a half hours. Until his dismissal, the only mistake he made was with the lunch interval imminent, when, shortly after reaching his century, he drove at Keedy and edged waist high to Horton at slip, who, unusually, put down the chance.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/29/naved-arif-sussex-lancashire
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