Hughes strokes half-century to close in on 500-run mark

DERBY, England,  CMC – Leeward Islands Hurricanes opener, Chesney Hughes, extended his superb early-season form for Derbyshire with an unbeaten half-century in a drawn encounter with Sussex, on a rain-hit final day of their English County Championship fixture here Wednesday.

Left-hander Hughes finished on 58 not out as Derbyshire, batting a second time, finished on 92 for two at Nottingham Road.

A draw was always on the cards once rain forced the abandonment of the entire penultimate day on Tuesday, with Sussex on 468 for five in their first innings.

And any remaining hopes of an outright result were completely dashed when more inclement weather wiped out the morning session and most of the second session.

Predictably, Sussex declared at their overnight total – 277 runs ahead on first innings – in an attempt to bowl Derbyshire out in the 51 overs available.

But Hughes stood tall, stroking eight fours in an attractive innings that consumed 86 balls in 1-3/4 hours at the crease.