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Afzaal century overwhelms Sussex

category: Cricket

09.05.2008 02:26

Usman Afzaal smashed a superb unbeaten 126 to help Surrey beat Sussex by 67 runs in their floodlit Friends Provident Trophy match at Hove.

Afzaal put on 153 with Mark Ramprakash (63) and 87 with Alistair Brown (40 not out) as Surrey posted 346-3 - a record score at Hove in the competition.

West Indian Corey Collymore went for 71 off nine overs on his Sussex debut.

Several Sussex batsmen got starts but none passed 50 in their 279-8 - and Afzaal topped off his day with 2-42.

James Benning (43) and Scott Newman (51) got Surrey off to a flying start with a stand of 81 from 12 overs as Collymore, signed as a Kolpak player on a one-year deal, conceded 42 runs in his first six overs.

Afzaal and Ramprakash then took up the attack and were particularly harsh on off-spinner Ollie Rayner.

Brown took over from Ramprakash in a profitable stand at the end of their 50 overs, but left-hander Afzaal, who joined the county from Nottinghamshire in the summer, was the star and he reached his century off 92 balls.

The former England batsman hit 12 fours and two sixes before stumps brought an end to Sussex's misery in the field.

Sussex skipper Chris Adams (40), Murray Goodwin (38) and Michael Yardy (39) were unable to get the big score needed and the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals as Surrey sealed an emphatic victory.

Original text is here

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