Smith blitz as Sussex sail clear

PRO40 DIVISION ONE, Scarborough:
Sussex 231-5 beat Yorkshire 254-2 (Sussex 2pts)

Live scorecard

Dwayne Smith had only previously hit two one-day fifties this summer

Dwayne Smith smashed an astonishing 58 off just 22 balls as Pro40 holders Sussex defied the rain at Scarborough to stretch their lead at the top.

Smith hit his first ball over long-on for six before taking 26 in one over from Richard Pyrah to push his side ahead of the run-rate, chasing 254-2.

And, when the rain came with Sussex on 231-5, it was largely Smith's efforts that earned a Duckworth/Lewis victory.

Joe Gatting was stranded on 99, Adam Lyth having 109 not out for the Tykes.

But it was Smith's cameo innings which caused the biggest stir as he had sections of the 5,100 crowd taking evasive action from his five fours and five sixes.

By contrast, left-hander Lyth's maiden one-day century on his home ground, 109 not out off 95 balls, was more sedate.

But Lyth, been unable to gain a regular first-team place in Yorkshire's Championship side, also hit four sixes of his own in a swashbuckling stand of 118 in 13 overs with his skipper Anthony McGrath (48).

For Gatting, 21, the nephew of former England skipper Mike and son of ex-Arsenal and Brighton footballer Steve, it was comfortably his highest score in one-day cricket.

In an attempt to inject some new blood into what has been a disappointing season, Yorkshire brought in James Lee, Azeem Rafiq and Lee Hodgson for their 'List A' debuts for the county.

Lee took 2-30 from his four overs, marking his debut in satisfactory style by getting rid of openers Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ed Joyce.

And things looked even better for Yorkshire when Richard Pyrah had Murray Goodwin caught behind top leave Sussex on 72-3.

Gatting, having started confidently, moved to his 50 before hitting spinner David Wainwright for a midwicket six as he put on 58 for the fourth wicket with his skipper Mike Yardy.

But, when Yardy returned a catch to Rafiq, that brought in Smith. And, when the big West Indian returned to the pavilion just 27 minutes later, he had won the game for Sussex.

The light was already worsening when he finally holed out. And, when the rain set in, despite striking 13 fours and three sixes from his 90 balls, that left a frustrated Gatting just one short of that first one-day ton.