Sussex grateful for Hopkinson ton

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
MATCH DRAWN: Warwickshire 407 & 97-2d. Sussex 429-8d. (Warwicks 7pts Sussex 8pts)
7-10 July 2009

Scorecard

Hopkinson's total of 119 came in 193 balls

Sussex's middle-order fight-back helped them secure eight bonus points on the final day of their stalemate with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Carl Hopkinson's century (119), added to Luke Wright's 71 and Andy Hodd's 59 helped the visitors to 429-8 before declaring with time running out.

Naaqash Tahir enjoyed the most success with the ball, ending on 4-83.

Warwickshire declared on 97-2 from 33 overs with Ian Bell ending unbeaten on 55 alongside Jonathan Trott (9).

Sussex began the day on 276-4, looking to make up for lost time having missed almost a whole day's play on a soggy Tuesday in the West Midlands.

Wright and Hopkinson returned to the crease on 59 and 64 respectively and took the score onto 303 before the blonde-haired Wright departed, Tahir's sole wicket on the final day.

606: DEBATE

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Wicketkeeper Andy Hodd came in and continued the resurgence, forging an impressive sixth-wicket partnership of 87 with Hopkinson before the latter was caught by Ant Botha off the bowling of Jonathan Trott on 390, and was almost immediately followed by Dwayne Smith who went for a duck courtesy of Trott again and alert fielding by Rikki Clarke.

The Sharks shuffled onto 429 before Yasir Arafat was dismissed lbw by Neil Carter, prompting a declaration by skipper Mike Yardy.

With few overs left in the day, a draw loomed in the balance and such inevitability looked to have an effect on Bears opener Ian Westwood when he was dismissed on just four runs by Corey Collymore.

The arrival of Ian Bell eased the run rate along a little quicker, as the erstwhile England man notched 55 from 105 balls, forging a 59 run partnership with Tony Frost before his dismissal with the Warwickshire on 70.

First innings ton-maker Jonathan Trott then moved in, making nine, before skipper Westwood declared with the scores on 97-2 to consign the match to a draw.