da betcris： A round-up of all the action from the final day in Division One of the County Championship
da casino： Cricinfo staff28-May-2005Division One points table
Alan Richardson: late wickets almost pulled off victory for Middlesex © Getty Images
Scorecard
Sussex TV highlights
A match that had ebbed and flowed from the start, came to a thrilling conclusion, as Sussex’s last pair survived 11 balls with fielders crowded around the bat. Scott Styris and Alan Richardson claimed four wickets each in sterling spells, after Sussex had been the side with the scent of victory. After being set 314, Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie added 146 for the third wicket as Sussex kept the required rate within their grasp. But Richardson removed Goodwin and Styris snaffled Montgomerie to put the match back in the melting pot. Matt Prior and Robin Martin-Jenkins combined to add 68 for the sixth wicket to put Sussex back on course, as they entered the last 10 overs needed 53 with four wickets in hand. Prior was caught and bowled and Martin-Jenkins fell to the first ball of the penultimate over, to leave James Kirtley and Jason Lewry to see out 11 deliveries. With one or two inside edges they managed to thwart Middlesex’s effort and honours ended even – just.
Scorecard
Kent were given a real fright by Surrey, as they threatened to chase down their target of 406 after an opening stand of 280 between Scott Newman and Richard Clinton. Newman was the aggressor, reaching his century from 196 balls, and the opening partnership was not broken until after the tea interval. When Newman fell to Martin Saggers for 167 Surrey sent in Alistair Brown as they showed their intention to have a dip at the target. Clinton reached his grafting century from 277 balls, but Brown blasted 29 from 21 balls to give Surrey a chance. However, Andrew Hall and Min Patel used all their experience, treating the closing overs as the death of a one-day game, firing in yorkers and cramping the batsmen for room. When Clinton, Brown and James Benning fell in the space of 10 runs Surrey gave up the chase and the players shook hands on a draw a short time later.
