Keaton Jennings guides Lancashire to third straight win

The England batsman finished unbeaten on 91, taking his side to a five-wicket victory over Sussex at Hove

Hove (fourth day of four): Sussex 328 & 154, Lancashire 230 & 255-5 - Lancashire win by five wickets

Scorecard

Former England opener Keaton Jennings led Lancashire to their third win on the spin in the LV=Insurance County Championship against Sussex at the 1st Central County Ground, Hove.

Lancashire won by five wickets shortly after lunch on the final day to stay top of the Group Three table, and Jennings followed his first innings 60 with an unbeaten 91.

Sussex battled hard to the last but ultimately paid for their cheap second innings dismissal and Lancashire were worthy winners.     

They started the day on 124 for 2, still requiring another 129, with Jennings unbeaten on 35. Sussex opened with their two leading wicket-takers in the match, Stuart Meaker and Jack Carson.

Jennings reverse-swept the ever-threatening Carson for four and Lancashire appeared to be making serene progress towards their target when, after 35 minutes play, nightwatchman Saqib Mahmood had a rush of blood and charged down the wicket to drive Carson. But he missed the ball, wicketkeeper Ben Brown made a simple stumping, and Lancashire were 147 for 3.

New batsman Liam Livingstone did not last long. With 100 runs still needed, Livingstone, on three, clipped Carson to midwicket where Delray Rawlins tumbled forward to take the catch.

^{Jack Carson was the pick of Sussex's bowlers}

Sussex were back in the match. But Lancashire always looked favourites while Jennings was at the crease. The batsman reached his half century from 105 balls and looked generally untroubled, though he did edge Meaker just short of second slip.

Sussex thought they had made a breakthrough at the other end when new batsman Josh Bohannon, on nine, survived an appeal for a stumping off Carson only after both umpires had consulted.

While Jennings continued to play the anchor role Bohannon went for his strokes. He flicked Jamie Atkins to fine leg for four and guided Henry Crocombe to third man for another boundary. Then he pulled Crocombe backward of square for another four. Carson remained the most threatening bowler but after 90 minutes he was replaced by Rawlins. But when he bowled a full toss to Bohannon the batsman pulled him over midwicket for six.

Bohannon’s aggressive innings of 46 came to an end when he pulled Crocombe to long leg where Tom Clark took a fine catch; Bohannon’s 53-ball innings included eight fours and a six. At lunch Lancashire were 228 for 5, still needing 25 runs, and they got there 27 minutes after the break.

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