Hampshire left ruing lucky escape by Goodwin

Shane Warne's Hampshire struck twice with the new ball at sunny Hove today but were left regretting the one who got away.

Sean Ervine and Chris Tremlett dismissed Sussex openers Richard Montgomerie (5) and Ian Ward (3) inside the first five overs and with only 10 runs on the board.

But if they had combined to remove Murray Goodwin as well then Sussex's innings could have nose-dived into serious trouble.

Instead, Tremlett failed to grasp a difficult catch on the run when Goodwin top-edged a pull against Ervine with the total 21 and the home side didn't look back until Goodwin was third out for 87 with the score 182. The former Zimbabwe Test player put that early escape, on three, behind him to reach an 81-ball halfcentury while Michael Yardy, who started his championship campaign by making 111 at The Oval last week, dug out another precious score.

Yardy's 50 took 90 balls. He and his partner were scoring with greater ease just before and immediately after lunch, however, and by lifting the total to 182 this afternoon they had extended their partnership to 172 before Goodwin was bowled by ex-Sussex seamer Billy Taylor.

The second-over dismissal of Montgomerie owed more to southern Africa than the south coast with the opener pushing forward against Harare-born Ervine and thin-edging a straightforward catch to Johannesburg-bred keeper Nic Pothas. Pothas also caught Ward.

Frizzell County Championship

Div One: - Canterbury: Kent 148-3 (44 overs) v Warwicks. Lord's: Notts 157-4 (44 overs) v Middx. Hove: Sussex 182-3 (49 overs) v Hants.

Div Two - Riverside: Worcs 150-7 (43 overs) v Durham. Northampton: Northants 90-0 (26 overs) v Leics. Headingley: Yorks v Somerset (start delayed).