COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, The Rose Bowl
Hampshire v Sussex
29 April - 2 May (Play starts 1100 BST)
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Hampshire 341-8(Hants 3 pts, Sussex 2 pts)

Sean Ervine hit his best score for Hampshire to help guide his team to an impressive 341-8 against Sussex.

Zimbabwean Ervine's 109 was only his second century for Hampshire, his previous best having come at Old Trafford against Lancashire in 2007.

But, in partnership with his in-form skipper Nic Pothas, he swung the match Hampshire's way at The Rose Bowl with a fifth-wicket stand of 150.

Pothas made 74, his third straight 50-plus score, to overcome a tricky start.

Robin Martin-Jenkins had Michael Carberry caught in the covers at 26. And, at 81, Michael Lumb gave Australian Damien Wright his first wicket for the county with a nudge to keeper Matt Prior.

Chris Benham was out soon after lunch to a slip catch by Rory Hamilton-Brown to enable Martin-Jenkins to claim a second wicket but then Sussex lost control.

Opening batsman Jimmy Adams made an enterprising 61 with a six and eight fours as Hampshire began to get on top.

Adams was caught behind off Ragheb Aga at 145 but that paved the way for Ervine and Pothas.

Ervine reached his century off 136 balls but at 295 became a rare victim for Sussex new signing Ed Joyce.

The former Middlesex batsman was only given two overs by his captain. But, in the first of those, Ervine sliced to backward point where Hamilton-Brown held his third catch of the innings.

The 150 partnership had occupied 36 overs and there was no respite for Sussex as Pothas, on the back of his 187 undefeated runs in the match at Edgbaston last week, and then Liam Dawson continued the barrage.

Only when the new ball was taken in the 80th over did Sussex rein in the free scoring, West Indian pace bowler Corey Collymore taking two wickets in three overs.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version