COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Hove
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Durham 380, Sussex 269-6(Sussex 5pts, Durham 6pts)
6-9 May 2009 (Play starts 1100 BST)

Plunkett has played nine Test Matches for England

On the day of Graham Onions' exciting entry into Test cricket, Durham team-mate Liam Plunkett offered a reminder of his own England credentials.

Plunkett, who played the last of his nine Tests two years ago, enjoyed a starring role against Sussex at Hove.

The 24-year-old fast bowler followed a career-best 94 not out by then wrecking Sussex's top order with three wickets.

Replying to 380, Sussex slid from 81-0 to 109-5 as Plunkett struck three times in 17 balls before reaching 269-6.

Plunkett uprooted Chris Nash's off stump for 40 and had Murray Goodwin and Rory Hamilton-Brown caught behind for ducks.

With Mitch Claydon picking up captain Mike Yardy and Ed Joyce, Durham were in a strong position to enforce the follow-on until Sussex were revived by a sixth wicket stand of 150 in 38 overs between Luke Wright and Andrew Hodd.

Wright struck nine fours in his 67, leaving Hodd unbeaten at the close on 84 not out - his highest score for two years.

But this was Plunkett's day and the only disappointment was that Durham's tail-enders did not hang around long enough to enable him to complete his maiden first-class hundred.

Resuming on 318-7, he helped Callum Thorp add 59 in 18 overs for the eighth wicket.

After Thorp holed out to deep mid-on for 29, Wright soon uprooted Claydon's off-stump. And Plunkett was only able to add three more runs before last man Steve Harmison was caught behind pushing forward to Rayner.

But, although disappointed at missing a ton, Plunkett's new career-best, made off 184 balls and including eight fours, was 20 runs better than his previous high, an unbeaten 74 against Somerset at Stockton in 2005.

BBC Sussex's John Lees reviews day two at Hove:

"After missing out on his maiden ton, Plunkett took the ball and sparked a flurry of wickets.

"Luke Wright and Andrew Hodd led the fightback, and in the best batting of the day added 150 in 37 overs.

"Sussex still have some batting left and won't want to be too far adrift on first innings."

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