BAD LIGHT brought play to a close after 56 overs on a frustrating day's play for Sussex with the ball in a rain interupted day two against Somerset.

Sussex began the day on 382/6 but saw the tail quickly skittled out, adding just 37 runs for the last four wickets.

Sussex made the early breakthrough taking Somerset's captain Justin Langer for 15, but then Marcus Trescothick and Zander De Bruyn put on 141 for the second wicket.

Lewry bowled De Bruyn on 77 and Trescothick edged behind to Prior eight short of his century as rain stopped play for an hour after lunch.

Luke Wright dismisses Peter Trego on 32 in the last over of the day before the elements had the final say with Somerset 166 runs behind the Sussex total on 253/4.


PLAY SUSPENED DUE TO BAD LIGHT - The elements have conspired against us today after periods of heavy rain play is halted for bad light.
Somerset are 253/4 with Peter Trego just dismissed on 32.

57th over: WICKET: Another great catch from Prior to dismiss Trego on 32. Attempting a hook the batsman flicked the ball to Prior's left for the wicketkeeper to spring up and take. 253/4

56th over: Correy Collymore comes back to bowl. He chucks one in wide of the off stump and Trego paddles it behind to bring up the fify partnership. He slaps another down the leg side for another four and finishes with a single.

55th over: Trego frustrates Lewry by edging behind with the ball just bouncing beyond the dive of Yardy at gully, then edgeing down the leg side before driving through the covers in an expensive over. Trego moves on to 25, Hildreth 26

54th over: Trego with a streky four edging with the underside of his bat and then has a nervy moment hanging his bat out and just avoiding an edge behind to Prior.

53rd over: Hildreth again on strike, hooking to deep square leg for two and then missing on the spin with the ball glancing his shoulder. 226/3.

52nd over: Hildreth dropped on 16. He cut back to bowler Martin-Jenkins's left as he was steaming in, he was heading the wrong way though and just slipped as he got his hand to the ball. His reaction suggests he feels he should have made it though. Hildreth drives the next one through the covers for four.

51st over: Just the single for Hildreth off Lewry.

50th over: Martin-Jenkins resumes from the church end. Hildrith angles one to third man for three before hoping onto his front foot to slap down the leg side to the boundary.

49th over: Play resumes with Wright bowling. Nine overs have been lost to the rain which stopped play for an hour. Hildreth picks up the single before Wright bumps one over Trego's head, and Hildrith blocks out the last.

The rain appears to have stopped and the covers have come off, so plays should resume shortly.

Rain has delayed play here at Cricketfield Road with Somerset 204/3 having got through just one over of the evening session.

Trescothick's top score of 92 was his sixth half century so far this season. He has hit two centuries.

The crowds have dwindled as the rain has become a more regular feature today in totally contrasting conditions to yesterday's sunshine - but there is still a food number of umbrellas around the ground.

48th over: Rain looks likely to play a part in this evening session as it's re-introduction coincides with the resumption of play. Robin Martin-Jenkins kicks the last session of day two off with a short bouncer which Trego swipes away to the gap at leg gully. Not surprisingly the covers are being ready and play is suspended.

SUSSEX have finished a rain interupted afternoon session of day two on a high after claiming the crucial wicket of Marcus Trescothick eight short of his century in the penultimate over.

Trescothick and Zander De Bruyn had looked set to bat through to tea after their 141 partnership.

But Jason Lewry bowled De Bruyn on 77 in the 39th over and Matt Prior took a fine catch to his left to remove Trescothick on 92 after Robin Martin Jenkins seamed a beauty past the off stump.

Somerset close on 200/3 with James Hildrith on ten and Peter Trego on one, and with the short bouts of rain the conditions will be a little slippy for the evening session.



47th over: Lewry with the last over of the session. Trego gets off the mark with a scrambled single and that's in before tea. Somerset close on 200/3, Hildrith on ten, Trego one.

46th over: WICKET: That's the big one of Trescothick dismissed on 92. Robin Martin Jenkins' pitched one that bounced high away from off stump and Trescothick hung his bat out to snick and edged to Matt Prior, who dived to his left to pounch a fine catch. That could be a big moment in the match as rain continues to fall. Trego comes in.

That's the pitter patter of rain is back with us, but there's only two more overs until tea so you would expect to see them out.

45th over: Hildrith hits an easy single to give the strike back to the former England batsman. Lewry bounces one at him but he's seen plenty of those in his career and simply ducks out of the way.

44th over: Trescothick hits a streaky four, the ball cliping the bottom edge of his bat down to bounce just right of his stumps. He was lucky not to play on but it moves him onto 92.

43rd over: Trescothick is taking most of the strike. He's all wrists as he flicks the ball behind down the leg side for four and comes closer to his 100.

42nd over: Sussex sense another wicket. They've closed the field in around Hildrith after Trecothick picked up a single. Goodwin does well to dive and stop the ball at point.

41st over: Great chance to catch Hildrith behind. He flicked a pacey Lewry ball behind just over head height for Prior to dive at but he puts it down. It was difficult for the wicket keeper to be fair. Lewrry is looking dangerous and conceeds just two.

40th over: Fairly heavy rain is replaced by a light drizzle as RMJ bowls from the church end. He leads a lbw shout against Trescothic but there was a bit of bat before.

39th over: WICKET: De Bruyn is clean bowled by Lewry with an absolute peach which destroys his middle stump to the relief of the Sussex team. He's gone on 77 from 70 balls, including 13 fours and one six. It breaks their 141 partnership having batted for 27 overs together. James Hildrith comes in as the rain comes to join us again.

38th over: De Bruyn demonstrates how to use the sweep shot to good effect, sawtting one down the leg side and then reverse sweeping low past first slip. Trescothick finishes the over with a six which again threatens the tennis courts.

37th over: Just two from a Lewry over.

36th over: Rayner is hit for a four by Trescothick through the covers as both men continue their assult on a ton.

35th over: Lewry comes back to bowl from the railway end, apart from a two from Trescothic it's a tight over.

34th over: Ollie Rayner comes back to bowl spin from the church end. De Bruyn slogs him for a huge six which travels over the wicket and over our heads in the press tent.

33rd over: Tight over from RMJ, just a couple of singles. I'm still not sure where that rain emerged from. It seems to have just flirted with us for a few minutes before and then moved onto someone else.

32nd over: Trescothick cut right for four off Wright.

31st over: CENTURY PARTNERSHIP: Trescothick finds the boundary down the offside to bring up the 100 partnership. The pair have got their in 112 balls. Trecothick takes a single with the last ball from Collymore.

30th: The partnership moves to 99 runs with Trescothick running up three and De Bruyn taking two from a pushed shot.

29th over: A couple of singles from De Bruyn and Trescothick keep things ticking along.

28th over: A terrific drive through extra cover brings up De Bruyn's half century from just 44 balls, including ten overs. It's a carbon copy the next ball as he looks to take the innings by the scruff of the neck.

27th over: The covers come off after the very briefest of showers which has cleared the air a little. Robin Martin Jenkins comes back at the railway end. De Bruyn smacks him for two fours and then finds three with a placed shot through the leg side.

The muggy conditions have been replaced with a sudden downpour of heavy rain which has suspended play and send spectators running for cover. A couple of stalwarts have even joined us in the press tent saying they are 'too old to get their tee shirts wet' - whatever that means.

Trescothick is on 53 and De Bruyn is 35 not out, with Somerset on 106/1 in chase of the Sussex total of 419.

26th over: De Bruyn adds nine to his tally with a couple of accomplished fours and the an easy single to take the first significant runs off Rayner.

25th over: Trescothick hits his half century off 81 balls, hitting ten fours - the last of which is clinically dispatched through mid wicket. He has a bit of a nervy moment when his straight bat nearly lets one go under, but he just catches Collymores delivery with the very bottom.

24th over: Heart-hearted leg before shout against De Bruyn as he misses an attempeted sweep. He sweeps the next ball a single and Trecothick clips down the leg side for two to move onto 49.

23rd over: Maiden over from Collymore. They are restricting the run flow but could do with taking a wicket.

22nd over: Trescothick takes just a single off Rayner's over, the ball squirming under Goodwin.

21st over: De Bruyn finds the boundary with a cut down the off side to the rope at third man, he seems to have settled well. That's all the batsmen get off another good Collymore over.

20th over: Big shout for leg before against Trescothick, but you could here it hit his bat first. Sweeps a delicate shot for a single.

19th over: Big chance to catch Trescothick. Dwayne Smith fielding as sub had to spring to his right with the ball flying over his head, he got it down but couldn't hold on.

18th over: Ollie Rayner comes in for his first spell as Sussex introduce some off spin from the church end. De Bruyn takes two off him before flapping at one which goes behind and then taking a comfortable single.

17th over: Trecothick punshes into the space at leg slip and then rolls his wrists around a ball down the off stump to pick up two singles.

16th: De Bruyn snicks passed Prior down the leg side and it rolls to four, and then plays two nice shots to the boundary at leg on and leg off to move onto 15 and take 12 off the over.

15th over: Correy Collymore comes back to bowl his second spell from the railway end. De Bruyn gets off the mark with a shot for three which eludes the dive of Collymore. The bowler beats the off stump with his last two deliveries which Trescothick judges well to leave.

14th over: A good tight over from RMJ with five dot balls, and it's not a bat sixth but Trescothick puts his bat through it to send the ball skitting passed the opposite wicket for four to move onto 30..

13th over: Trescothick takes nine off Lewry's over, guiding a smooth stroke downt the leg side, then dispatching a straight drive to the rope and finishing with a single.

12th over: New batsman Zander De Bruyn comes in to face the last ball of Martin-Jenkin's over as play resumes after lunch, and he blocks out.

SOMERSET have dismissed Sussex for 419 in the morning session of the second day of their County Championship match at Horsham.

Four wickets fell for 37 runs as Somerset made light work of the Sussex tail, and Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick guided their side to 33 without loss. But Langer will be kicking himself, having played on to Robin Martin-Jenkins with the last ball of the session.

12th over: WICKET. A very timely strike from Martin-Jenkins, with the last ball before lunch. Langer takes a swipe at a good length ball and plays on, ans that's the end of the session.
Somerset 33/1

11th over: An impressive pull shot from Langer, he rocks back and swats away a short ball. The skipper follows that with a single into the leg side.

10th over: An early change of bowling - Robin Martin-Jenkins on for Collymore, bringing a maiden.

9th over: Lewry pitches it up and Trescothick replies by punching him down the ground for four, and tucks him away for a single off the last ball of the over.

8th over: Langer attempts to flay Collymore through the offside, but only succeeds in edging for four.

7th over: Two more for Trescothick, despite not catching a Lewry delivery.

6th over: Banger caresses a half volley down the ground off Collymore for the first boundary, three balls later a flowing stroke sees him dispatch Collymore to the rope.

5th over: Trescothick is off the mark, following up Langer's single with one of his own.

4th over: A solitary single there, but only after Langer plays and misses to a rising Collymore delivery.

3rd over: Lewry whistles one past Langer's nose, and then is clipped away for a single, good pace from the openeing bowler.

2nd over: A maiden from Collymore, Cricketfield Road is bathed in glorious sunshine once more as the clouds start to lift.

1st over: Loud shout for caught behind third ball to Langer, but there's nothing doing, that's followed by an ambitious appeal for leg before.
Langer pushes a comfortable single to end the over.


Jason Lewry will take the new ball from the railway end, with former Australian Test ace Justin Langer taking strike and Marcus Trescothick at the other end.

111th over: WICKET. Not one to hang around Lewry slaps a full delivery right down the throat of Ian Blackwell.
That's the end of the innings - Sussex will be disappointed to have lasted little more than an hour this morning with four wickets falling for 37 runs. The heavy weather will encouarge the likes of Lewry and Collymore with the new ball though.
Sussex 419 all out

110th over: Lewry is your typical tain-ender, follows up a couple of wild swipes with a single dug out from under his nose.

109th over: WICKET. Peter Trego strikes in his first over of the day from the Church end, Rayner gets trapped a bit on the crease and chips a leading edge to Andy Caddick at mid off, who plucks the catch off his bootlaces.
Next man in Jason Lewry gets off strike pretty sharpish with a single first ball.
Collymore follows that up with a cracking shot for four, which is past Caddick before he can move.

108th over: Willoughby digs one in short and Rayner pulls it away for two, although he is made to dive to make his ground on the return.
A swing and a miss from Collymore brings an end to the over.
Sussex are 413/8.

107th over: Chris Adams has a dilemma here. Does he let Rayner and Collymore continue picking up the odd run here and there, and get the scoreboard moving with a view to declaring before lunch.

106th over: Willoughby is keeping it tight too, tucking the batsmen with just back of a length. He allows just a single there.

105th over: Jones is bowling well, following a wicketless first day with two early strikes. He allows just the single run off that over.

104th over: Rayner grabs a single with a leg glance - these two are proving they are no mugs with the bat.
Collymore runs a leg bye, rubbing a now rather sore section of thigh.

103rd over: WICKET. Martin Jenkins is tempted by a delivery just outside of off-stump, has a flash and edges to James Hildreth at gully.
Martin-Jenkins departs for 16 and Corey Collymore is the new man in.
Collymore scuttles two off his legs first ball.

102nd over: Ollie Rayner belies his position in the batting order, effortlessly timing a Willoughby delivery for two runs to bring up the 400.

101st over: Martin-Jenkins stands tall to punch a Jones delivery to the point boundary in classic fashion off ther back foot - next ball a streaky edge just misses the slips and skips to the rope.

100th over: Six dots, and Somerset will be encouraged.

99th over: WICKET. Hopkinson chases a wide delivery from Jones, edging behind to wicketkeeper Craig Keiswetter he departs for 42.
It was such a thick edge it could be heard from the press box.
That's exactly the early breakthrough Somerset skipper Justin Langer will have wanted.

98th over: It's a sedate start. A single each for Martin-Jenkins and Carl Hopkinson, but Charl Willoughby did beat the edge a couple of times.

97th over: Robin Martin-Jenkins flicks the first ball of the day to the leg side boundary - followed by five dots.


Muggy conditions here at Cricketfield Road - yesterday's hero Murray Goodwin beleives Sussex will have to bat until lunch while conditions will be conducive to swing.
Steffan Jones will start the day's proceedings from the Church end.

Sussex batsmen Carl Hopkinson (41) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (one) will resume today's play at 11am after Sussex posted 382/6 at stumps yesterday.

With a bit of cloud cover, the morning session could be crucial.