Sussex left frustrated as Grayson leads resistance

Paul Grayson, Andy Flower and Aftab Habib all compiled solid half-centuries to help Essex build a useful lead of 235 against second-placed Sussex in Frizzell County Championship Division One. The visitors, 19 behind on first innings, made steady progress on a slow Arundel wicket to reach 254 for six at stumps and shade the honours.

Sussex, earlier bowled out for 359, were made to work hard for their wickets but off-spinner Mark Davis stuck to his task to finish the day with three for 44 from 19 overs.

Opener Grayson, whose 71 was his highest championship score of the season, was one of Davis' victims, and he also sent back Flower and skipper Ronnie Irani after tea.

Sixth-wicket pair Habib and James Middlebrook added 51 before Habib was adjudged caught at the wicket off Jason Lewry just before the close.

Grayson and Nasser Hussain got Essex away to a sound start, knocking off the arrears in 12 overs, and had put on 49 when Hussain fell to Lewry in the fifth over after lunch.

Hussain, top scorer with 95 in the first innings, top-edged a pull and Mushtaq Ahmed ran 20 yards to make the catch, coming in from long leg.

James Foster followed for just a single, being superbly run out by Lewry, after Grayson sent him back having pushed Mushtaq towards backward point.

Lewry beat Foster's vain attempt to regain his ground with a direct hit to the bowler's end.

Grayson and Flower batted sensibly to compile a third-wicket stand of 90 in 23 overs, and Grayson had stroked 11 boundaries in a 134-ball vigil before becoming Davis' first victim as the off-spinner beat him in the flight.

Davis, who had previously taken only four wickets in the championship this season, struck two more blows immediately after tea by removing Flower and skipper Irani in successive overs. Flower, who gave skipper Chris Adams a sharp chance at slip off Mushtaq on 43, fell leg before offering no stroke, having fired nine fours in his 108-ball innings.

Irani displayed aggression by heaving Davis wide of long on for four, but next ball he pushed forward defensively and edged a straightforward catch to Adams at slip, and Essex had lost half their side for 193.

The Sussex tail-enders had earlier made useful contributions as the hosts, resuming on 282 for eight, added 77 in 80 minutes before being dismissed for 359.

Mushtaq and James Kirtley had extended their ninth wicket stand to 43 when Mushtaq (34) skied Grayson to long on to give the left-arm spinner his fourth wicket.

Kirtley resisted for 79 balls in compiling 35, and Lewry hit out to make a brisk 22 before attempting a big drive off Middlebrook and edging a slip catch to Flower.