Rain frustrates Slater and Waugh

Australian pair Michael Slater and Mark Waugh made up for lost time with an entertaining, unbroken partnership of 70 in the 55 minutes of play that was possible on the second day of the rain affected tour match against Sussex at Hove.

Rain prevented a start until 3.15pm after 52 overs had been lost, but an easy-paced pitch offered few perils for the batsmen who took full toll of anything wayward by the Sussex attack.

Resuming on 19-2 after Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting had gone cheaply last night, the third-wicket pair had taken the score to 86-2 when another shower drove the players off an over before tea. The rain became heavier during the interval and play was abandoned for the day at 5.15pm.

Slater had moved on to 46 and impressed with the quality of his pulling and hooking. When Mark Robinson dropped short he swatted him over the stand behind square for six.

Waugh was slightly fortunate to survive off the last ball before the break when Billy Taylor failed to hold on to a top-edged hook off Robinson at long leg.

At tea he was 30 not out with Australia still 269 runs behind Sussex's first innings 355-4 declared and it will need some imaginative captaincy from Chris Adams and Adam Gilchrist to set up an interesting final day.