WATCH: England pacer wreaks havoc with 7 for 38 including hat-trick in One-Day Cup, says ‘The amount of dark days...’

31-year-old Yorkshire pacer Matt Milnes scripted history at County Ground, Hove on August 24 as he bagged a seven-wicket haul against Sussex in England Domestic One-Day Cup 2025. Milnes registered the third-best List A bowling figures for Yorkshire.

The top spot belongs to Richard Hutton, the pacer with five Test caps who took seven wickets for 15 runs against Worcestershire in 1969. The second spot belongs to England's veteran pacer Darren Gough who claimed seven wickets for 27 runs against Ireland in 1997.

Milnes’ early strikes push Sussex on back foot

Opening the bowling, Milnes got the ball rolling with Tom Haines' wicket in the fifth over. On the next delivery, he dismissed Tom Clark lbw. In his next over, he struck again to send FJ Hudson-Prentice packing. Sussex were 24//3 in the seventh over. But, they recovered. Captain John Simpson and Oliver Carter shared a 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Simpson departed after scoring 65 runs from 78 balls. Then, Carter found a partner in Danny Lamb and they shared an 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Milnes takes hat-trick

In the slog overs, Milnes caused a dramatic collapse. Carter tried a reverse-flick over short third man but got caught. He was dismissed for a 79-ball 94. On the first ball, Jack Carson chipped it over in-field to find Bess in the deep. Then, he bowled a perfect in-swinging yorker to get rid of Archie Lenham to complete his hat-trick. His seventh and final wicket was Lamb who went for a pull shot but was caught in the deep. He scored 53 runs from 45 balls.

Comprehensive win for Yorkshire

Sussex were restricted for 284/9. In reply, Imam-ul-Haq's century, Jam Wharton's 85-run knock and fiery knocks from Matthew Revis, George Hill got Yorkshire over the line with six wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare.

Milnes opens up on ‘dark days’

Milnes has already decided to leave Yorkshire after the end of the season. He will rejoin Kent. His stay at Yorkshire was marred by injuries and not getting a guaranteed spot in the team.

“The amount of dark days I’ve had in the last two years, to have a couple of good days in the last month. I can’t put it into words really. It’s such a nice feeling,” Milnes said in a media release by the club.

“I’ve been dying for these moments in the last two years when I’ve been in the gym helplessly watching the lads go about their stuff. Just to be a part of it now, I’m just loving every second of it.”

Interestingly, Yorkshire’s next game is against Kent, which will also be their last group stage encounter. Currently, Yorkshire are at the top of the Group B points table with six wins from seven games. Milne wishes to lift the One-Day Cup before leaving Yorkshire.

“I absolutely love these lads,” he added, of his Yorkshire team-mates. “The dressing room is absolute quality. Everybody wants each other to do well, and it’s a fantastic, fantastic dressing room with a lot of talented lads.I’m just desperate to win this competition with this group. For me, that would be a great way to sign off.”

So far, Milnes has played just 17 List A games and has 31 wickets at an average of 26.22, including two fifers.