COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Hove:
CLOSE, DAY ONE: Northants 125, Sussex 236-2
Sussex 4pts
Match scorecard

Nash's century was his third Championship ton of the summer

Sussex are on the brink of promotion back to Division One of the County Championship after dominating the first day of their clash with Northants.

Only David Murphy (47no) resisted as Northants were skittled for 125 at Hove despite winning the toss, Yasir Arafat taking 4-43 and James Anyon 3-32.

Chris Nash then hit an unbeaten 122 and Michael Thornely 89 in an opening stand of 228 as Sussex made 236-2 by stumps.

A further 114 first innings runs on Wednesday would guarantee promotion.

Sussex began the game needing a maximum of eight points to secure promotion.

But Worcestershire's failure to pick up maximum batting points means that seven will suffice, even if fourth-placed Gloucestershire pick up maximum point wins in their final two matches.

Murphy apart, Sussex were helped by some woeful Northants batting as extras ended up as their second highest scorer with 16.

606: DEBATE Good to see Thornely in some form - it's been painful for him this year MartinMartlet

Corey Collymore made the initial breakthrough when he had Mal Loye caught low down by Andy Hodd - one of three wicketkeepers in the Sussex side.

Seam movement then helped Arafat bowl Stephen Peters and Alex Wakeley before Anyon took three of four wickets to fall in 12 overs before lunch.

Rob Newton and James Middlebrook both gloved catches to Hodd, while Andrew Hall edged to Ollie Rayner at slip.

Monty Panesar got in on the act against his old county by removing David Sales with his arm ball and then, after a 20-minute break for rain, Sussex finished off the job with three wickets in 23 balls, with Arafat yorking David Lucas and Jack Brooks.

Nash and Thornely, who was dropped on 24, raced past the Northants total in their opening stand, which was finally ended when Thornely was bowled by Brooks for a career-best 89.

Brooks also picked up nightwatchman Anyon, but Sussex ended the day firmly in command.

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