Goodwin edges Sussex closer to promotion

The most prolific opening pair in the Second Division had mixed results as Sussex edged towards their promotion target on the first day at Edgbaston.

Richard Montgomerie was caught a short leg - a first-ball victim for Vasbert Drakes - but Murray Goodwin batted for around six-and-a-half hours to raise a total of 315 for 8.

The Zimbabwean hit 19 fours and two sixes from 300 balls in making 150 for a carbon copy of Montgomerie's record - six centuries in the Championship and seven in first-class cricket.

Giving only one chance when on 61, Goodwin went ahead in aggregate as he topped 1,600 runs on his one-year contract as stand-in for Michael Bevan.

The timing of this performance could not have been better with Sussex needing ten points to be sure of going into the First Division next season.

Whether they do it here or in the final match against Gloucestershire, they will be hugely indebted to Goodwin for wearing down one of their promotion rivals.

Warwickshire have much more to do, but they strived to stay in contention despite losing wicket-keeper Keith Piper because of a thigh strain.

Dougie Brown bowled Chris Adams off his pads for 33 and deputy 'keeper Michael Powell held a leg-side catch from Michael Yardy for the first of five wickets for Alan Richardson.

The hard-working seamer chipped out debutant Tim Ambrose for 26 and Robin Martin-Jenkins before tea and Brown struck again when Nick Knight clutched a stinging slip chance from Matthew Prior.

Mark Davis gave a catch at gully, but no one could shake Goodwin's resolve until a pull off Richardson was spectacularly held by Melvyn Betts, leaping to his left at deep mid-wicket.