Match report day 2: Sussex v Lancs in Championship 2004 by Neil Adams

Scorecard:

Summary for Day 2

By close of play on the second day, this first division clash was back in the melting pot with any of the three results still possible. With Lancashire batting on a fourth innings pitch, and with Mushtaq Ahmed back to his best, a similar finish to that of last season appears to be on the cards.

In the fourth over of the day, Martin-Jenkins nipped the ball back to uproot Mal Loye's off stump. Until then, Martin-Jenkins had only managed to find extravagant out swing. Sutcliffe, playing another sheet anchor role, was finally undone by a slower delivery from Kevin Innes, and also lost his off stump. In the remaining 11 overs before lunch, Law and Hooper worked the ball to all areas of the ground with the minimal amount of fuss.

After the interval, Law's stroke play remained impeccable, while for some inexplicable reason Hooper became totally withdrawn (14 runs from 20 overs). Needless to say, Hooper eventually contributed to his own downfall by offering a simple bat pad catch to Matt Prior. By this time, the partnership had realized 129 runs. Mushtaq, who bowled unchanged from the Sea End for 28 overs, suddenly developed his full repertoire of tricks and over zealous appealing. With just 4 overs remaining to tea, disaster struck. Chapple and Cork both fell leg before wicket - the later to a first ball duck. One already sensed that Lancashire's lead was not going to be as significant as first thought despite Law's outstanding chanceless hundred from 165 balls.

The procession of batsmen intensified in the final session. Hegg offered a bat pad catch in the first over, and Peter Martin was completely outwitted 2 overs later by Mushtaq - both batsmen returned to the dressing room without a run to their name. Law posted his 150 in the 91st over. In truth, Sussex had all but given up hope of removing the Australian. Both Sajjid Mahmood and Gary Keedy fell to leg before wicket decisions (5 of the last 6 fell this way). Keedy appeared to be unlucky. He held a steady pose for the umpire after being struck on the pad. Despite being outside the line of the off stump, umpire Llong concluded Lancashire's innings with a useful, if not spectacular lead of 140. Law's masterful innings of 171 not out came from 246 balls and contained 22 x 4 and 1 x 6.

Sussex's opening batsmen, Ward and Montgomerie safely negotiated the remaining 18 overs, and as the clock reached 7pm, the game finally finished with the hosts on 51 for 0, trailing by 89 runs.

Key Notes of the Day

Loye bowled Martin-Jenkins 15 - 57 for 2 in the 18th over - Sutcliffe 22*
101 for 2 in the 34th over - Sutcliffe 36* Law 26*
50 partnership - 108 for 2 in the 35th over - Sutcliffe 37* Law 32*
Sutcliffe bowled Innes 45 (Slower ball) - 120 for 3 in the 36th over - Law 36*
151 for 3 in the 45th over - Law 42* Hooper 19*
50 Law from 95 balls (9 x 4) - 159 for 3 in the 46th over - Hooper 19*
Lunch - 161 for 3 from 47 overs - Law 51* Hooper 20*
50 partnership - 172 for 3 in the 49th over - Law 57* Hooper 23*
Lancashire take lead - 197 for 3 in the 56th over - Law 68* Hooper 29*
202 for 3 in the 57th over - Law 73* Hooper 34*
100 partnership - 220 for 3 in the 63rd over - Law 86* Hooper 34*
Hooper caught Prior bowled Mushtaq 34 - 229 for 4 in the 67th over - Law 91*
100 Law from 165 balls (16 x 4) - 240 for 4 in the 69th over - Chapple 1*
250 for 4 in the 72nd over - Law 109* Chapple 3*
50 partnership - 279 for 4 in the 82nd over - Law 131* Chapple 9*
Chapple lbw bowled Mushtaq 10 - 286 for 5 in the 83rd over - Law 136*
Cork lbw bowled Innes 0 (First ball) - 287 for 6 in the 84th over - Law 137*
Tea - 289 for 6 from 86 overs - Law 139* Hegg 0*
Hegg caught Prior bowled Mushtaq 0 - 290 for 7 in the 87th over - Law 140*
Martin lbw bowled Mushtaq 0 - 292 for 8 in the 89th over - Law 141*
100 lead - 296 for 8 in the 90th over - Law 145* Mahmood 0*
301 for 8 in the 90th over - Law 146* Mahmood 4*
150 Law from 219 balls (21 x 4) - 305 for 8 in the 91st over - Mahmood 4*
Mahmood lbw bowled Akram 9 - 331 for 9 in the 96th over - Law 169*
Keedy lbw bowled Akram 0 - 335 all out - Law 171*
Lead by 140 runs - 18 overs left - Sussex over rate minus 1

51 for 0 in the 17th over - Ward 30* Montgomerie 16*
Close of play - 51 for 0 from 18 overs - Ward 30* Montgomerie 16*
Trail by 89 runs - Lancashire over rate minus 2
Sussex 3 points, Lancashire 6 points