Hartley leads fightback

Yorkshire 345; Sussex 33-2

Sussex supporters lead frustrated lives. They must have felt that this was going to be one of the better days when, after putting Yorkshire in to bat yesterday, Sussex had reduced them to 150 for 7 - but they then had to suffer while Richard Blakey and Peter Hartley put on 151 in 24 overs.

After impressive spells by Jason Lewry, arguably a better left-arm seamer than either of the two who played for England at Lord's, and Vasbert Drakes (5 for 99 in 27 overs) the quality of the bowling fell away.

The eighth-wicket pair received a constant stream of half-volleys and long-hops and, while Blakey was happy to make one end safe as he compiled his highest score for two years, Hartley, a most engaging batsman, took full toll. He drove and pulled without much footwork in an almost stately manner, making 89 from 76 balls with two sixes and 16 fours.

The seam bowlers all suffered, and none more so than Ed Giddins, who heard during the day that he will face the full disciplinary committee of the Test and County Cricket Board on 19 August. The pitch had apparently been uncovered when a storm broke on Monday and it was a good morning for the seamers, who found movement in the air and off the pitch.

Lewry started Yorkshire's early decline in the fifth over when he hit Michael Vaughan's off-stump with one which swung back into him. It is this ability to swing the ball into the right-hander at a distinctly lively pace which marks Lewry out.

In the eighth over, David Byas was yorked by Drakes and in the 13th Lewry bowled Martyn Moxon through his back-stroke with another which swung in late. At 55, Michael Bevan trod on his stumps after edging a short one from Giddins into his body.

Anthony McGrath and Craig White then added 90 in 29 overs on either side of lunch, before Drakes removed them both and Darren Gough for five runs in 11 balls.

n Phillip DeFreitas, the former England all-rounder, gave Gloucestershire a torrid time with a five wicket haul at Derby yesterday. The visitors were recovering well from the loss of Nick Trainor to the first ball of the match when the innings went into swift decline. They slumped from 114 for 3 to 217 all out before tea, with only their opener Matt Windows offering any real resistance with 76 in 52 overs. Courtney Walsh hit back with two quick wickets but Derbyshire's former captain, Kim Barnett, struck a rapid 65 (making 50 off 54 balls) as Derbyshire closed on 166 for 4.