A destructive spell of reverse-swing bowling from West Indies paceman Jayden Seales propelled Sussex to an innings and 124-run win against Derbyshire inside three days in the English County Championship on Sunday.
The 22-year-old bagged a career-best five for 29 from only eight overs and was twice on a hat-trick before Derbyshire were bowled out for 109 in their second innings – with New Zealander Blair Tickner absent hurt – in their Division Two match at Derby.
Seales is now the most successful bowler in the Division Two championship this season with 18 wickets at an average of 21.2, and he has outdone England pacer and new-ball partner, Ollie Robinson, and media reports in the country have started to warn Ben Stokes and company of pending danger.
The Trinidad & Tobago native has 34 wickets in 10 Tests for West Indies, and he has not played since late 2022 because of injury, but his form for Sussex suggests that the Caribbean side may be able to produce a lethal attack for the three Tests during the English summer.
Apart from Seales, there is long-serving Kemar Roach, who is playing for Division One title holders, Surrey, while Jason Holder has turned out for Worcestershire to try to win a Test recall after a period of prioritising T20s, while the two Josephs – Alzarri and Shamar – are also potent weapons.
The form of Seales has also catapulted Sussex to the top of the Division Two table with 74 points from two wins and two draws from their four matches.
Sussex already had a healthy lead of 111 entering the day after they had dismissed Derbyshire for 246 in their first innings the previous day.
India batting maestro Cheteshwar Pujara added only nine to his overnight 104, and the visitors lower order were required to secure maximum batting points.
Danny Lamb added 49 with Finn Hudson Prentice to stretch the lead towards 200, before he gave left-arm spinner Jack Morley the charge and was stumped.
After Ollie Robinson drove Morley for six, he was caught at short mid-wicket off the same bowler and when Hudson-Prentice was caught at long on off Morley, Derbyshire had five overs to negotiate before lunch.
David Lloyd and Luis Reece survived with few alarms, but the drama unfolded after the interval when Seales started to make the ball talk, and Derbyshire crumbled in the span of 17 overs.
Sussex were deducted a point from their haul of 24 for a slow over rate, while Derbyshire finished with only three bowling points. (CMC)