The Sussex batters chose to be aggressive from the outset. They rode their luck at times, most notably when Leicestershire’s debutant Australia Test batter Jake Weatherald, at third slip, handed Clark his escape by spilling a regulation catch off Holland, but generally missed few opportunities, of which plenty were on offer.
Sussex were 57-0 from 5.5 overs when Dan Hughes was well caught at third man in Green’s opening over. They had 100 on the board in the 15th over and 136 in the 25th was none too shabby as Haines, chasing a wide delivery, became their second casualty when he was caught behind.
Haines had reached his half-century in 52 balls, the first in the country to that mark. Clark’s took 70 deliveries, numbering seven fours and two sixes.
The afternoon reflected more favourably on the home attack, for whom Holland and Green were excellent. Sam Wood claimed a deserved wicket and Rehan Ahmed found some turn to remove the threat posed by John Simpson, who scored almost 400 runs in the past two matches between these counties.
Wood’s wicket was that of James Coles, who bottom-edged an expansive drive into his stumps.
Holland pinned Sussex debutant Jack Leaning in front and, switching to the pavilion end for the first time, drew Clark into a forward defensive that saw him caught behind by Ben Cox, standing up. England’s leg-spinning all-rounder Ahmed had Simpson leg before.
Clark’s hundred came off 160 balls, with nine fours and four sixes. Sussex added 108 in the session, but at a cost of four wickets as they slipped from 192-2 to 262-6.
Price, who hit seven boundaries, advanced the Sussex cause after tea before Yadvinder Singh’s perseverance was rewarded with an lbw verdict.
Former Worcestershire right-armer Singh, who has been signed on a short-term contract, had a nightmare start after being trusted with the new ball at the pavilion end, conceding 25 in two overs.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 33, after being dropped on five, secured the third batting bonus point.
Report supplied by the ECB Reporters’ Network.
