LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Hove:
Sussex 217 Middlesex 46-3
Sussex 2pts Middlesex 3pts
Match scorecard

Matt Prior hit 123no in Sussex's first innings score of 217.

A superb unbeaten century from England's Matt Prior saved league leaders Sussex from total collapse against Middlesex.

Prior hit 17 boundaries in an unbeaten 123 as Sussex were bowled out for 217 with the next highest scorer Murray Goodwin on just 17.

Tim Murtagh and Gareth Berg both took three wickets for the visitors.

But Sussex struck back by taking three wickets before the close, including that of Andrew Strauss for just 13.

Prior's hundred was his first for over a year, but could not have been better timed, coming in front of England captain Strauss and national selector James Whitaker.

The second division leaders' decision to bat first on a well-grassed pitch was quickly undermined by some consistently probing Middlesex seam bowling.

Prior gave one difficult chance on 15 when Scott Newman dropped him running in from the backward-point boundary, but otherwise played with his customary freedom - particularly through the off-side - as he struck 15 boundaries from 149 balls.

It looked like he might miss out on what was his 21st first-class hundred when Sussex slumped to 166 for eight, but Monty Panesar, another player looking to impress Strauss, helped him add 46 for the ninth wicket - of which Panesar contributed seven.

But while Prior prospered, batting was a desperate struggle for his team-mates.

Murtagh picked up two quick wickets with his out-swingers and Joe Gatting lost his off stump to Berg to leave the leaders in trouble on 28 for three.

Goodwin was looking the part when he chased a wide one from Murtagh and was well taken low down by Strauss at slip.

Sussex's middle order offered little support to Prior with Andrew Hodd falling to former team-mate Tom Smith. James Anyon sacrificed his wicket after a mix-up with Prior ended with both men at the same end and Berg wrapped up the innings with two wickets in three overs.

Middlesex's batsmen found the going just as difficult and Strauss' poor early-season form continued when he fell for 13.

Nine championship innings have yielded 226 runs for Strauss, who had just played the shot of the day - a straight drive off Rana Naved - when he gloved an attempted pull off the next delivery and was caught by Prior, keeping wicket for the first time this season ahead of the start of the Test series against Bangladesh in three weeks.

After a brief stoppage for bad light, Middlesex were plunged into more trouble when Corey Collymore had Newman caught behind before pinning Dawid Malan for a second-ball duck.

Another stoppage ended play eleven overs early with Middlesex 46 for three and much depending on Owais Shah, who finished unbeaten on nine.

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