Sussex v Hampshire, LV=CC: Day Two Report

Adam Wheater (111) hit his sixth century for the Club on a record-breaking day for Hampshire on day two of the LV= County Championship match v Sussex at Hove.

The wicketkeeper-batsman batted brilliantly during his 99-ball stay at the crease to put on 165 for the eighth wicket alongside Gareth Berg (99) as Hampshire reached 392 all-out in their first innings.

The stand broke the record for the highest eighth wicket partnership for Hampshire against Sussex as the visitors worked their way to a lead of 141 runs at tea.

West Indian fast-bowler Fidel Edwards (4-21) then picked up four wickets in the evening session to cap off an excellent day for Hampshire as Sussex ended the day on 142-5, a lead of just one run.

It was a tough day for an understrength Sussex, although when they had Hampshire 197 for 7, having just removed James Vince for 76, they probably entertained hopes of a first innings lead themselves.

Instead, with only Steve Magoffin bowling with the necessary control, their attack was shredded by Wheater and Berg.

Between them they struck 136 runs in boundaries with Berg hitting four sixes as the Sussex attack leaked runs at nearly seven an over.

Wheater reached a chanceless hundred just after lunch from just 82 balls and was clearly frustrated with himself when he top-edged a sweep at part-time off-spinner Luke Wells, having hit 17 fours and faced 99 balls in what was only the third Championship century at Hove this season.

Wells soon picked up the wicket of Edwards, leaving Berg on 84 when he was joined by last man Jackson Bird. Berg moved into the 90s with successive straight sixes off left-arm spinner Mike Yardy only to be run out by Matt Hobden’s direct hit running in from the fine leg boundary when the came back for a second run. His 99 off 98 balls included 12 boundaries.

Hampshire tails were up, though, and Edwards reinforced their superiority by taking 3 for 16 in seven overs with the new ball.

The West Indian discomfited all the Sussex batsmen with searing pace and occasionally steepling bounce down the slope. Luke Wells was out for a duck, squared up and edging to third slip, Matt Machan (1) under-edged a pull into his stumps and Mike Yardy (15) was leg before to a full-length ball when Edwards went over the wicket to the left-hander.

At 23 for 3 Sussex were in danger of a two-day defeat but skipper Ed Joyce and Nash rebuilt the innings with a stand of 61 in 20 overs. But confirmation that it was Hampshire’s day came when Berg, who had taken four wickets in the first innings, slanted a ball across Joyce which he could have left but instead edged to second slip for 36.

Nash progressed to 50, from 93 balls with seven fours, but immediately after reaching his first half-century of the season he was trapped in front by Edwards, who finished the day with figures of 4 for 21 from 11 overs, an analysis he will fancy his chances of improving on the third day.