One-Day Cup: Luke Wright's 166 gives Sussex win over Middlesex

Luke Wright
Luke Wright's previous best score in any limited-overs format was 153 not out in a T20 game against Essex in 2014
Royal London One-Day Cup, Lord's
Sussex 298 (48 overs): Wright 166, Brown 55; Sowter 4-48
Middlesex 176 (33.3 overs): Eskinazi 42, Hamza 3-43
Sussex (2pts) won by 122 runs
Scorecard

Luke Wright made the highest limited-overs score of his career as Sussex beat Middlesex by 122 runs for their third One-Day Cup win in four games.

The opener hit 166 off 142 balls, with nine sixes and 10 fours, sharing a stand of 174 with Ben Brown (55).

Wright's dismissal led to their last five wickets going down for 21 as spinner Nathan Sowter took 4-48.

The visitors were all out for 298, but Mir Hamza claimed 3-43 as Middlesex could muster only 176 in reply.

After a delayed start, which meant a reduced 48-overs contest, Sussex lost Phil Salt to the fifth ball of the game, and soon found themselves in further trouble on 30-3.

Wright, who recently retired from red-ball cricket, took 63 balls for his half-century, but then accelerated as Brown provided the support he needed.

A six over mid-wicket off Toby Roland-Jones carried him to his hundred and three in a row followed in the 43rd over, bowled by Tom Helm, and three more from the next sent down by Dawid Malan.

He eventually perished in the deep off Helm going for a 10th maximum, but had already beaten the 163 by Chris Adams against Middlesex at Arundel in 1999, Sussex's highest score in a List A match.

Paul Stirling (37) hit two fours and a six from successive deliveries in the first over of Middlesex's reply, but their innings lacked the kind of inspired innings produced by Wright, with Stevie Eskinazi's 42 the top score as they were bowled out in 33.3 overs.

Middlesex spinner Nathan Sowter:

"Luke Wright's innings was incredible. He took the game away from us. He earned the right to do what he did at the end and put us under the pump. Take his score out and we're well and truly in that game.

"Sometimes that happens on a really good wicket at Lord's. We had them 79-4, and then 102-5, but that partnership with Brown was the difference.

"We are in a good position still if we turn up next week against Somerset. They are top of the table, so if we can knock them off their perch that would be nice."

Sussex batsman Luke Wright told BBC Sussex:

"The last time I was here I got a pair in a four-day game and it was a very different feeling. The timing just clicked for me.

"When we were five down, it felt like we were in a lot of trouble so I had to sort of drop the anchor and had to be there with 10 over to go.

"Browny came out and played brilliantly. He was really busy and kept scoring and just took the pressure off. It was a great day and it makes it more special when you win."