Loss of wicket as rain comes further dampens Hampshire's day

The loss of a wicket just before heavy rain brought an early close to the second day typified the day for Hampshire, as they face an almost impossible task of overturning Sussex's mammoth first innings total at Hove and in turn, their slim hopes of beating the drop.

Sussex, probably the only team that Hampshire can realistically overhaul at the foot of the Frizzell County Championship Division One, ensured that the likelihood of that actually happening became minute as they took their first innings to record 631-6dec and sentenced Hampshire to just one bonus point while they helped themselves to the maximum five.

Their total passed the 98-year old Sussex v Hampshire record of 552-7dec at Portsmouth and beyond the record between the two sides, set at the County Ground at 600-8dec in 1990.

Opener Richard Montgomerie, left out of the side recently after a lowly run of scores, replied with a career-best 196, although being denied a deserved double-century when he got an edge to Nic Pothas off James Tomlinson, who suffered at the hands of the Sussex batsmen with 1-154 in 30 overs.

The Hampshire bowlers had no answer as South African-born wicket-keeper Matt Prior then waded in to become the third century maker, pasting a quick-fire 102 not out from just 105 balls.

Robin Martin-Jenkins' 64 seemed slight in comparison to Goodwin (119), Montgomerie (196) and Prior, as none of the Hampshire bowlers could walk away with moderate figures.

A run-a-ball half century from Neil Johnson gave the visitors a positive response, but as the rain clouds loomed, the Zimbabwean international was adjudged to have edged to keeper Prior.

Hugely disappointed with the decision, his mood cannot have been helped by seeing the rest of the players scamper from the field as the heavy rains came to prevent any further play and leave Hampshire 69-1 ... still 562 runs behind.