Sussex v Hampshire LVCC Day 2 17th July

Dawson took Goodwin's wicket caugth by Pothas (Photo - Barry Zee)

Hampshire struggle to avoid follow-on

(ECB Match Report)

Off-spinner Ollie Rayner claimed the important wickets of Sean Ervine and John Crawley as defending champions Sussex had Hampshire struggling to avoid the follow-on at Arundel Castle.

Rayner, Sussex's front line spinner in the absence of their champion bowler Mushtaq Ahmed who is recovering from knee surgery, helped reduce the visitors to 131 for five in response to Sussex's impressive 426.

Sussex seized control of the match on a rain-hit second day after Murray Goodwin, resuming on 116, went on to lodge a marathon 184 from 336 balls.

Nic Pothas and Liam Dawson denied Sussex further success before the close by adding a solid unbroken 26 in 10 overs for the sixth wicket.

Bottom-of-the-table Hampshire made the worse possible start with openers Michael Brown and Michael Carberry falling with only 14 on the board.

Brown lost his leg stump to Corey Collymore for a duck and Carberry had scored only three when he edged Jason Lewry to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Michael Lumb was pinned in front by a straight delivery from Ragheb Aga before the 6ft 5in Rayner removed Ervine and Crawley as Hampshire lost half their side for 105.

Ervine appeared disappointed to be given out after edging Rayner to slip where skipper Chris Adams held a catch, flicking the ball up off his boot.

Crawley batted attractively to complete his half-century from 59 balls with 10 fours but, on 70 he prodded at a ball of extra bounce from Rayner and Adams held onto the catch over his head at slip.

Earlier, former Zimbabwe star Goodwin, resuming with Sussex on 316 for five, was finally ninth out as his side were dismissed 15 minutes after lunch.

Goodwin, whose vigil spanned seven-and-a-half hours, compiled 18 fours and a six over long on at the expense of pace bowler David Balcombe.

Left-arm spinner Dawson, playing in only his second championship game, struck to end Goodwin's long innings by having him caught at the wicket to claim his maiden first-class victim.

On an overcast morning, Sussex lost three wickets in the first hour with left-armer James Tomlinson removing Robin Martin-Jenkins and Rayner in successive overs on the way to taking five for 108 from 35 overs.

Tomlinson struck first by having Martin-Jenkins caught behind pushing forward without addition to his overnight score and then Rayner was pinned in front by an inswinger.

Balcombe grabbed his second wicket by trapping Aga leg before, but Goodwin ensured maximum batting points for his side by dominating a ninth-wicket stand of 74 in 19 overs with former West Indies pace bowler Collymore (20).

Scorecard