COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Hove:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Yorkshire 403, Sussex 233-4 (Yorks 4pts, Sussex 3pts)
16-19 September 2009

Sussex are still in the hunt to earn Division One survival after making a a strong response to relegation rivals Yorkshire's total of 403 at Hove.

In the match which could decide who is relegated with Worcestershire from Division One. Sussex closed on 233-4.

Mike Yardy (58), Joe Gatting (46) and Chris Nash (42) all made runs, with Murray Goodwin (44) looking well set.

Ajmal Shahzad (88) and David Wainwright (85) earlier took their stand to 156 after the Tykes resumed on 274-7.

Sussex captain Yardy tried seven bowlers in the morning but the home side did not break through until the score was 388.

Shahzad, 12 runs short of a maiden century, was lbw to Hamilton-Brown attempting to work a straight ball to leg. And Yorkshire lost their ninth wicket in the next over when Azeem Rafiq was also out lbw playing across the line.

But, if the Sussex bowlers thought their day was finished they were again disappointed.

Wainwright helped add a further 35 with Matthew Hoggard until the former England paceman was bowled by Rory Hamilton-Brown for 17 on the stroke of lunch.

When Sussex replied, Yardy put on 68 for the first wicket with Nash, who again failed to build on a promising start, slicing his drive to extra cover on 42.

New batsman Gatting, was troubled at first by Wainwright's slow left arm. But, using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball, he had more success against Rafiq.

He had hit 10 fours when he offered a sharp return catch to Rafiq, which the bowler put it down. But he did not profit from the reprieve as, in the next over, without addition, he was lbw to a full-length delivery from Hoggard.

Goodwin had scored only eight when he was missed by Joe Sayers at extra-cover, Rafiq again proving the unlucky bowler.

But, just when Yardy was looking his usual phlegmatic self, Sussex lost two wickets in as many balls.

First Yardy clipped onel to Adam Lyth, who took a tumbling catch at midwicket and then Carl Hopkinson, working to leg, was lbw first ball.

But Goodwin and Hamilton-Brown (32no) added an unbeaten 68 to pull Sussex round and, at halfway in this match, leave the draw the likely outcome.

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