COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Hove:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Worcestershire 256 and 71-4, Sussex 280 (Sussex 5pts, Worcs 5pts)
11-14 August 2009

Matt Mason took his season's best 7-39 against Lancashire in July

Matt Mason claimed a seven-wicket haul for the second time in four games - but it still may not be enough to save Worcestershire from defeat at Hove.

Despite Mason's 7-60, home keeper Andrew Hodd's 73 helped Sussex to 280 all out, a first innings lead of 24.

But Sussex then captured four wickets before the close, Vikram Solanki going to the final ball of the day on 71-4.

That leaves the visitors leading by just 47 runs with only six second innings wickets standing.

But, without Mason, Worcestershire would have conceded a substantial first-innings deficit.

Mason, who already claimed the wicket of Chris Nash the previous night, bowled outstandingly in the morning session to take 4-16 from 12 overs as Sussex slumped to 101-6 in reply to Worcestershire's 256.

He trapped nightwatchman Ollie Rayner leg before with his second ball of the day then yorked home skipper Mike Yardy and had Murray Goodwin caught at slip.

Carl Hopkinson became his fifth victim when he was held at second slip driving extravagantly at a ball well outside off stump. But Worcestershire had nobody to match Mason's accuracy and aggression at the other end.

Hodd, with the only half-century of the game so far and his third of the season, led a lower order recovery, helping Luke Wright add 69 for the seventh wicket,

Mason had Wright caught at slip in his second over after lunch. But Hodd was able to counter-attack in the company of Yasir Arafat, the pair putting on 78 for the eighth wicket in 21 overs.

That ended tamely when Arafat was caught behind trying to dab Gareth Batty's off breaks to third man.

And, when Worcestershire skipper Solanki took the new ball as soon as it became available, Mason duly obliged to get rid of Hodd, with an edge to slip.

There was still plenty to assist the quicker bowlers - and Sussex made good inroads after tea.

Worcestershire had not cleared their arrears when Daryl Mitchell was beaten by Robin Martin-Jenkins' late in-swing.

Stephen Moore then mis-timed a pull to deep square-leg and Arafat struck two crucial blows just before the close when Ben Smith and Solanki were both leg before to big in-swingers.

In-form pace bowler Matt Mason told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I've bowled a lot of overs this year especially in the last two months, but I have actually really enjoyed that.

"I think it has been why I have been more successful of late because I have finally got into some rhythm which I was probably lacking at the start of the year.

"I have got a very simple theory - you can't get wickets if you are not bowling - so I am quite happy to do the job."

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