Seven wickets from Australian overseas player, Matt Nicholson has put Surrey in an excellent position going into the last day of their match with Sussex at Hove.

Nicholson took his first five wicket haul for the Club today, taking 5-89 to help bowl Sussex out for 365. Surrey captain, Mark Butcher then enforced the follow on shortly before the close and Nicholson’s work didn’t end there, as he claimed another two vital wickets, to have the home side reeling at 35-2, still 226 runs adrift of the Brown Caps first innings score of 626-3 declared.

The New South Wales born Nicholson was superb today and his performance gives his team a real chance of claiming their first LV County Championship win of the season. In conditions suited more for batting, Surrey toiled hard and were rewarded for their persistence in bowling good lines and length.

It must have been pleasing for Cricket Manager, Alan Butcher to see all-rounder Rikki Clarke put in a really disciplined performance with the ball, as he took three valuable wickets to finish with 3-57. Not known for his accuracy, the 24 year old showed everyone just how lethal he can be with some hostile bowling that consistently asked questions of the Sussex batsmen.

Earlier in the day, Sussex were in a safer position when Murray Goodwin and Andrew Hodd were at the crease. The pair stalled Surrey’s progress with a solid 83 run fifth wicket stand but when Hodd was caught in the slips off a beauty from Clarke for 43, the home side then proceeded to lose their last six wickets for just 52 runs.

Surrey caught a lucky break when danger man Murray Goodwin, who had played superbly, was caught down the leg side off Nicholson for 119. And from that point on, Surrey rammed home the advantage, with Doshi mopping up the tail which then gave Butcher the easy decision to put the pressure straight back on the Sussex openers.

The extra bounce of Nicholson was too much for Richard Montgomerie who knicked a sharp climbing delivery to Ramprakash in the gully and then shortly after, Carl Hopkinson became Nicholson’s seventh victim of the day when he got a near unplayable delivery which nipped away off the seam, catching the outside edge and going through to the safe pair of hands of Jonathan Batty.

Day four promises to be an exciting day’s cricket with Sussex determined to make Surrey work for the last eight wickets. First innings centurion, Goodwin may hold the key for his side as he resumes tomorrow unbeaten on nine. However if Surrey were to take his wicket early, that first Championship win will get even closer. Fingers crossed for all supporters that the weather will not intervene as predictions suggest that tomorrow will be partly cloudy without much rain.

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