A glance at this scorecard and you would be forgiven for thinking it was early April, all bluster and nibble. Fourteen wickets fell, 12 to seamers, 10 to catches in the cordon. A second look suggests exactly what this was; a stunning summer’s day. There were 367 runs scored, at close to four-an-over, and 236 of them in boundaries.
The square at Hove has attracted attention aplenty of late. One Warwickshireman last week described the devilish deck his side played on a fortnight ago as the worst he had seen in first-class cricket. Astute local sages saw the one used for Middlesex’s visit earlier in the month as even more wild, while a second XI fixture had to be called off earlier in the season. This week’s edition is also unlikely to make it to Wednesday, but perhaps through the fault of those who have used it, rather than tended to it; it’s not deadly, but bounce varied occasionally. Wickets tumbled more due to loose strokes played in expectation of varied bounce than because of it, though.
Ed Joyce chose to get Sussex’s batting done sooner rather than later. Their 251, the second highest score in 10 completed Championship innings here, looked good after being 87 for four; yet, a marvellous counter-punching partnership of 115 from Chris Nash and Luke Wright, meant it represented a missed opportunity, too.
Sussex’s top order came out flaying as Fidel Edwards and Jackson Bird bowled short. A more controlled spell from Gareth Berg – who achieved his best figures since September 2011 – and Bird – who had swapped ends – saw them come unstuck, however. Luke Wells wafted to slip, Matt Machan was pinned on the crease, Mike Yardy edged through, then to, gully, before Joyce was caught brilliantly by James Vince at second slip.
Wright and Nash rebuilt rapidly, especially brutal to anything short or wide, of which there was plenty. But they fell in consecutive balls as Nash pulled Vince straight to deep square-leg and Danny Briggs got one to spit and take Wright’s glove. From there, Sussex went down swishing, all gone by tea.
Hampshire’s reply started unfortunately. Sean Terry drove, Steve Magoffin palmed it on to the stumps and Jimmy Adams walked. Terry was dropped on 20 and caught on 30, both at slip, while Michael Carberry creamed Ollie Robinson into the Pavilion before being made to nibble at one angled across him by Magoffin.
Vince batted beautifully. He drove and cut sublimely and was unbeaten alongside nightwatchman Briggs at the close after Will Smith was leg-before to Robinson. This is Vince’s first Championship 50 of a season where he should further his obvious international claims; remain on his plane, and not everyone else’s, and a ton is there for his taking.
