Sussex earn initiative against Middlesex

A draw looks the likely outcome in the battle between the second division's top two, but a couple of late wickets gave Sussex a slight edge going into the third day against leaders Middlesex at Hove.

Jason Lewry had Andy Strauss caught behind and Mark Robinson claimed the important wicket of Owais Shah for five as Middlesex reached 48-2 in 19 overs before the close replying to Sussex's 351-8 declared.

Earlier, Murray Goodwin had completed his fifth Championship century of the season but first at Hove when he made an attractive 127, which included 18 boundaries.

After the early loss of skipper Chris Adams, the Zimbabwean put on 85 in 24 overs with Bas Zuiderent before both departed in successive overs just before lunch.

Tim Bloomfield had Goodwin caught behind and Zuiderent became Phil Tufnell's second victim when he was leg before to one that the left-arm spinner held back intelligently.

Solid middle-order contributions from Mike Yardy (41) and Robin Martin-Jenkins, who made an undefeated 36, took Sussex to a fourth batting bonus point, but the Middlesex bowlers stuck to their task well during the afternoon.

Acting skipper Paul Weekes made 12 bowling changes on the second day and some of them proved successful with Bloomfield, Weekes himself, Chad Keegan and Simon Cook all picking up a wicket in the first over of a new spell.