Rawlins shines with the bat as Sussex maintain winning form
Delray Rawlins thumped a ruthless and unbeaten fifty as he and his Sussex team-mates thrashed Somerset by 201 runs to continue their winning ways in the Royal London One-Day Cup at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton, England, yesterday.
The Bermudian all-rounder hammered six fours and three sixes in a whirlwind 54 from 23 balls.
He reached his fifty off 22 balls in style with a boundary off seamer Jack Brooks in the final over of the innings as the visitors stacked up 397 for five after being sent to bat.
Rawlins added 87 with Ali Orr in just seven overs as the pair cut loose at the crease and put their hosts to the proverbial sword.
“Nice to contribute to another good win for the Sharks,” the 24-year-old told The Royal Gazette. “I have been practising well and hitting the ball well. So I just tried to stick to my strengths and do what works well for me.”
Opener Orr laid the foundation for Sussex’s big total as he smashed a record 206 from 161, the first ever List A double hundred by a Sussex player, which included eleven sixes and eighteen boundaries.
He added 141 with in-form captain and India Test player Cheteshwar Pujara, who chipped in with a run a ball 66 with five fours and a six, in stand that put the match beyond Somerset’s reach.
Brooks had the most success among the Somerset bowlers with two for 74.
Sussex made early inroads in the Somerset innings as the hosts slipped to 26 for three in the seventh over and never really recovered as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Bradley Currie claimed three for 38 and James Cole three for 31 as Somerset were rolled over for 196 in 38.2 overs.
Rawlins claimed one for 47 during a tidy spell of left-arm spin to cap a fine all round display.
Opener Andrew Umeed led the Somerset resistance with 56 from 60 balls, which contained six boundaries.