By D J Rutnagur at Eastbourne
First day of four: Sussex (335-7) v Durham
THE Saffrons made a pretty picture yesterday, the verdant playing area enhancing its splendour, though the hue of the pitch, almost as green as the outfield, held out prospects of a bowlers' morning.
But judging by the composition of the rival attacks - Sussex again preferred to play off-spinner Justin Bates instead of Robin Martin-Jenkins and Durham included two spinners - neither captain was deceived by the pitch's appearance. Moreover, Chris Adams's decision to bat first proved of immense profit to Sussex.
In fact, the pitch was so amiable that Durham must be pleased with the inroads they made, not least because Wasim Khan, who made 91, was hard to dislodge, Chris Adams looked like he could have wrought more damage than he did, and Michael Bevan was quite irresistible in plundering 95 off only 107 balls, with 13 fours and a six.
Stephen Harmison, back from England Under-19 duty to replace the injured Melvyn Betts, took the first three wickets, two of them before lunch. Toby Peirce did not quite middle a clip off the legs and was held at short leg and Mark Newell, neither forward nor back, was lbw.
Adams top-edged a pull, but not before he had made a breezy 56, preying on the left-arm spin of debutant Stephen Chapman. With a flurry of drives, he went from 50 to 95 off only 29 balls before playing on in an attempt to thrash John Wood through cover.
Day 2: Kirtley prospers on 'home' track
By D J Rutnagur at Eastbourne
Second day of four: Durham (116-5) trail Sussex (460) by 344 runs
AS Sussex and Durham are currently immediate neighbours in the Championship table, their contest on a docile pitch should have been more even than it is - Sussex are scenting a seventh win in eight meetings over the youngest county.
The only batsman to make a substantial score, 59, on another day of unblinking sunshine was Sussex bowler James Kirtley, son of The Safffrons' chairman and therefore playing on his home ground. Kirtley's overnight partnership for the eighth wicket with Justin Bates endured until five minutes before lunch and raised 108 runs to extend Sussex's record of totalling over 400 against Durham to a fifth time in six matches.
After watchful early defence Kirtley, whose previous highest score was 27, unfurled some telling and cultured shots and reached his first-ever 50 off 108 balls, with eight fours.
Durham's frustration did not end when John Wood removed both partners in two overs either side of lunch. Kirtley was superbly held by a diving Paul Collingwood, at gully, while Bates was caught behind from a faint edge. With support from an obdurate Mark Robinson, Jason Lewry thrashed the tired bowling around and the last pair added 29.
Lewry, bowling into a strong wind, quickly disposed of both Durham openers. Michael Gough, playing back, was bowled and John Morris was lbw. Robinson claimed Nick Speak lbw and bowled Jim Daley. Lewry came back to deal another blow, David Boon playing across a full-length ball.
Day 3: Speight of misfortune
By D J Rutnagur at Eastbourne
Third day of four: Sussex (460) bt Durham (198 & 181) by an innings and 81 runs
IF DELIGHTED with the outcome of this match, blessed with the best weather of a wretched summer, Sussex's treasurer will despair at the loss of a substantial Saturday gate which, judging by the attendance over the first three days, would have been sizeable.
Notwithstanding the shortcomings of Durham's batting, and luck being strongly in their favour - never more so than in the manner they dismissed former team-mate Martin Speight in the second innings - Sussex cannot be denied credit for claiming 15 wickets in a day without the aid of the pitch or atmosphere. They bowled zestfully and clutched difficult chances.
The morning's play sufficed for Sussex to capture the five first-innings wickets Durham had standing. Paul Collingwood, who had batted obdurately for an hour and a half on Thursday night, was claimed within 20 minutes of the start, thanks to a brilliant catch by Chris Adams at second slip.
An abrupt end to the innings was prevented by a neat and flawless 60 not out by Speight, who had saved Durham's bacon in their previous match and who, in the last week, has batted better than he has ever done since he moved north.
Following on after lunch, Durham started as badly as they had done in the first innings. In the third over, John Morris was superbly held in the slips off James Kirtley, as was Nick Speak off Mark Robinson, who, bowling very straight, then claimed Jimmy Daley and David Boon - who left in high dudgeon - lbw in successive overs.
Jason Lewry returned for a second spell to win an lbw verdict from Dickie Bird against Michael Gough, who had batted stubbornly to hold the innings together until an over before tea. Collingwood, who remained unbeaten with 56, having batted for 195 minutes, and Speight, who was as firmly entrenched, stayed together for 20 overs and promised a substantial recovery.
A great stroke of fortune brought Sussex Speight's wicket. Toby Peirce, at silly point, took evasive action as Speight punched a ball from Mike Bevan off the back foot in his direction, but the ball became trapped between Peirce's hip and forearm.