Robin Martin-Jenkins rediscovered his form with a battling 88 to help Sussex gain an important first-innings lead of 130 in their Championship match against Surrey at Hove.

Martin-Jenkins stroked nine fours and a six in his valuable 142-ball innings as Sussex recovered from 180 for six to post 378.

Surrey knocked 54 runs off the arrears by the close, opener Scott Newman and Richard Clinton confidently surviving 22 overs with Newman passing 1,000 first-class runs for the season in the process.

Pace bowler Azhar Mahmood, who persevered to take 5-72 from 27 overs, gave Surrey and early lift with three quick wickets but a half-century from Mike Yardy and Martin-Jenkins' solid contribution put Sussex in control.

Martin-Jenkins, whose highest score of the season had been 66 not out against Nottinghamshire in April, pulled his side around by sharing in a seventh-wicket stand of 80 in 29 overs with Yardy.

Yardy grafted to pass 50 for the sixth time this season. He had hit ten fours in reaching 65 from 191 deliveries when he became Jade Dernbach's first championship victim as he was caught at slip off a glove.

Luke Wright offered further stout support to Martin-Jenkins and the pair added 60 in 16 overs before Wright was out to a soft dismissal shortly before tea.

The young all-rounder was caught at cover point off Mahmood, square driving a wide half-volley which came off the toe-end of the bat.

Martin-Jenkins missed out on his first century for two years by being bowled off a bottom edge in attempting to pull former Sussex seamer Mohammad Akram.

The innings would, however, have come as a much-needed confidence boost for Martin-Jenkins, who was left out of the previous two championship games following a lean run.

Pakistani pair Mushtaq Ahmed and Naved-ul-Hasan clinched a fourth batting point for Sussex by putting on 34 for the last wicket but Tim Murtagh ended the innings by having Mushtaq caught at slip.

Sussex, resuming on 104-2, were in danger of losing their advantage following a poor morning session which saw them slip to 195-6 at lunch.

Mahmood led Surrey's fightback by snapping up 3-24 in a spell of eight overs.

Nightwatchman James Kirtley fell in only the second over of the day, edging Murtagh's second delivery to Ali Brown at second slip for a duck.

Mahmood then got going as Murray Goodwin hooked a short ball to Dernbach at long leg before skipper Chris Adams fell in the following over for only two.

Adams, after facing five balls, was caught behind wafting at a delivery attempting to cut, and Sussex were later reduced to 180-6 when Matt Prior also got himself out to a poor shot.

Wicketkeeper Jon Batty dived full length to his right to hold his third catch of the innings low down to leave Yardy and Martin-Jenkins the task of rebuilding the innings.

Friday, August 5, 2005