Sussex build strong position

Michael Bevan (166) and Richard Montgomerie (133), hitting respectively their highest scores for the county, put Sussex in a strong position against Nottinghamshire at Hove.

In spite of being put in to bat the hosts made 404-5 in their Division Two championship match. The visiting bowlers got none of the expected help from the green-tinged pitch on a fine summer's day. Bevan and Montgomerie came together when Toby Peirce was out at 45 off an inside-edge to Andrew Harris. They put on 292 runs in 68 overs before getting out in consecutive overs.

After 213 balls with 20 boundaries in some 300 minutes batting Bevan was bowled by David Millns: his season's total in all competitions is 1493 with 533 in his last seven innings. His second successive century came on the heels of his 151 n.o. against Essex last week.

Unfortunately for Sussex the Australian will be away for ten days in August playing for his country in three one-day internationals against South Africa in Melbourne. Montgomerie had made only three half-centuries this summer, and batted almost flawlessly before he was caught at slip off Richard Stemp.

His innings of some 390 minutes contained 19 fours. From that platform Chris Adams (35 n.o.) continued the attack on the bowling with 63 runs for the fourth wicket. Paul Reiffel had Cottey play on, and two balls later had nightwatchman James Kirtley out without scoring. Nottinghamshire missed Paul Franks who is in the England squad, and Reiffel's 23 overs cost 2-63.