CHRIS Adams was at the centre of another controversial dismissal at Hove yesterday.

The Sussex skipper stood his ground as his side struggled again on the second day of the Championship match against Worcestershire at Hove.

Adams was battling to guide Sussex to a meaningful total when he drove Stuart Lampitt low to Richard Illingworth at mid-on shortly before lunch.

Illingworth claimed the catch and was being congratulated by several team-mates while Adams remained unmoved at the crease.

Umpire Bob White delayed a decision, consulting his colleague Ken Palmer at square leg before raising his finger.

Adams trudged off to the pavilion shaking his head and smiling ruefully.

His departure for 36 reduced Sussex to 173-6 and they were eventually all out for an unsatisfactory 258.

Glenn McGrath did most of the damage with 5-54. The Australian Test star, having sent back Toby Peirce leg before on the opening day, started the slide by trapping Richard Montgomerie as well.

McGrath later mopped up the tail after Lampitt had wrecked the middle order.

The lanky fast bowler also trapped Umer Rashid for a competent 37, then had Robin Martin-Jenkins caught at second slip and James Kirtley by keeper Steve Rhodes.

Lampitt took two other crucial wickets in as many balls. Michael Bevan and Tony Cottey were both leg before, Bevan for a fluent 41 from 37 deliveries and the hapless Cottey without offering a shot.

That left young Irish rookie Andy Patterson the unenviable task of facing the hat-trick on his debut. He survived, but was soon caught behind off Kabir Ali.

McGrath's predictable success was in stark contrast to Alamgir Sheriyar. He was hit out of the attack in the morning by Bevan, who struck him for three majestic fours in successive overs.

Shellshocked Sheriyar had the consolation of Jason Lewry's wicket. He was out for a duck, giving Rhodes his third catch.

The trend of lbws was maintained when Worcestershire replied, Lewry and Mark Robinson removing Elliott Wilson and Ryan Driver respectively in consecutive overs.

Play did not end until almost 8pm, with the visitors 169 runs behind.

There were four interruptions in all for rain, hail and bad light and 34 overs were lost. These are stormy times at Hove, on and off the pitch.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.