COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Horsham:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Sussex 309, Nottinghamshire 231-2 (Sussex 3pts, Notts 4pts)
5-8 August 2009

Matthew Wood had hit only 34 runs in three previous matches this season

Opener Matthew Wood was closing in on a first Championship ton since 2005 as Nottinghamshire took control on the second day against Sussex at Horsham.

The former Somerset man batted for four and a half hours for his undefeated 85 as Notts reached 231-2 before bad light stopped play nine overs after tea.

It means second-placed Notts are only 78 runs behind Sussex, who were bowled out for 309 without adding a run.

Notts need a win to close the gap on Durham at the top of Division One.

Sussex had failed to add to their overnight 309 when Corey Collymore trod on his stumps defending the fifth ball of the day from Charlie Shreck.

But, with little lateral movement to assist their seam bowlers on a hot day, getting wickets did not prove so easy for the Sussex attack.

Collymore and Robin Martin-Jenkins, who took his first Championship wicket since June 11, gave captain Mike Yardy control and off-spinner Ollie Rayner bowled two impressive spells.

But a flat pitch and fast-scoring outfield meant it was relatively easy for the batsmen once they had established themselves.

Nottinghamshire had 43 on the board in the eighth over of their reply after home skipper Mike Yardy made a surprise change by introducing Rayner in the eighth over to exploit Scott Newman's perceived weakness against spin.

And it paid off when the left-hander, in his second match since joining from Surrey on a month's loan, got a bottom edge trying to force a ball which kept a touch low.

Newman reacted by swiping the middle stump out of the ground - an action which the umpires confirmed afterwards will be reported to the ECB's disciplinary panel.

He is the second player facing a slap on the wrists after they also confirmed that Ed Joyce will be reported for dissent following his dismissal on the first day.

Wood and then Mark Wagh put on 132 in 39 overs for the second wicket, although Wood had a reprieve on 42 in the last over before lunch when he edged hard to slip but Joyce failed to react in time and the ball went to ground.

Wagh accelerated during the afternoon and it was a surprise when he fell for 73, bowled by Martin-Jenkins off an inside edge.

Wood, whose last Championship century was his career-best 297 for former county Somerset against Yorkshire in 2005, pressed on although he added just four runs in nine overs after tea before the light got too bad.

Mark Wagh told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"It was difficult bowling on that wicket. You have to persevere.

"But Matthew Wood played beautifully and looked rock solid.

"We're in a very good position and it's important for us now to push on and get as many as we can."

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