Robin Martin-Jenkins starred with bat and ball as Sussex fought back late on the second day against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

The all-rounder made an unbeaten 80 in Sussex's 246 before claiming three wickets in the final session to leave Hampshire in trouble on 88 for six.

Martin-Jenkins' efforts shaded those of Hampshire's Shaun Udal, who improved markedly.

After taking nine wickets this season at an average of more than 80, he returned figures of five for 56.

What appeared a below-par Sussex total was made to look more testing when Will Kendall, lbw to Jason Lewry, and Derek Kenway, who was pinned in front by Martin-Jenkins, fell in swift succession.

Martin-Jenkins then bowled John Crawley for four, and Neil Johnson soon fell when he drilled a short, wide ball from the same bowler to Kevin Innes at cover-point.

Miserable

Robin Smith was then bowled through the gate by Billy Taylor, and Nic Pothas' demise, caught by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, capped a miserable evening session for Hampshire.

It was a far cry from the early part of the day, when the hosts needed less than eight overs to make the breakthrough.

Sussex captain Adams was bowled off an inside-edge attempting to leave one from Mullally.

Michael Yardy went before the lunch interval, attempting to sweep Udal and presenting wicketkeeper Pothas with a catch.

Tim Ambrose fell one short of his half-century to Mullally, and Prior surrendered his wicket when a lofted drive off Udal failed to clear Dimitri Mascarenhas on the long-on boundary.

Kevin Innes survived to see Martin-Jenkins bring up a 96-ball 50 which included five fours, but could only clip Udal straight to Kendall at mid-wicket as he tried to add his solitary run.

Neil Johnson claimed the scalp of Mark Davis, trapped in front, and Udal and Kendall combined again to send Jason Lewry on his way for four.

Taylor gifted Udal his fifth wicket and left Martin-Jenkins stranded at the other end.

Hampshire: D A Kenway, W S Kendall, J P Crawley, R A Smith (Capt), N C Johnson, G W White, N Pothas (Wkt), A D Mascarenhas, S D Udal, C T Tremlett, A D Mullally.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, M W Goodwin, C J Adams (Capt), M H Yardy, T R Ambrose, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior (Wkt), K J Innes, M J G Davis, B V Taylor, J D Lewry.

Umpires: K E Palmer and G Sharp