Sussex v Somerset LIVE (From The Argus)

5:44pm

Thanks for joining me today. I'll be back tomorrow. Short report on the web now. Full report and pics in the argus tomorrow morning. I'm off to grab a word with Mr Goodwin

5:41pm

That's it for the day. Sussex close on 186-2. Nash 106, Goodwin 51. Lead is 273

5:30pm

100 for Nash. Stuck on 99 for 10 balls but finally brings up his century with a straight drive for 4 off Trego. Came off 157 balls with seven fours.

5:28pm

He's done it. 50 for Goodwin. Warm round of applause around Hove. Lots of people standing up too. Great effort in probably his last innings for Sussex. Came off 119 balls

5:27pm

5:27pm

Maiden from Rehman so Nash is still on 99. Goodwin 49. 4 overs to go

5:24pm

Nash scampers a single to move to 99. Just beats the direct hit.

5:22pm

Goodwin on 49 now. I can see some people leaving. What are they doing?

5:21pm

Change of bowling. Trego down the hill. Nash on 97

5:19pm

Goodwin sweeps Rehman for 4 to go to 48. Only one 50 previously this season remember. What a time to come good!

5:12pm

Nash 94, Goodwin 43. 9 overs to go. Will be a big roar if they both reach their respective milestones. I think Goodwin's 50 might be louder than Nash's 100. Certainly no one in a good-ish crowd leaving early. Sussex 163-2, 250 ahead

5:03pm

Goodwin has made his second highest first class score of the season now. It would be great if he could beat the 74 he made against Notts. He's on 42 now and Nash is 88. Sussex 157-2

4:56pm

Nash sweeps Rehman for successive fours to move to 86 and bring up the 100 partnership at the same time

4:51pm

Nash on 928 runs for the season now. Looking like the only Sussex player who will make it to 1,000 this season. Joyce on 829 with 2 innings left

4:47pm

I do remember that poll bruce. Think it was during the Middlesex game at Lord's when they were soundly beaten for the second game in a row. It's been virtually non-stop success since then with the exception of the two semi-finals. Think even Robbo would admit they have over-achieved this season. Second place in the Champo and two semis is a good effort in anyone's book but to finish empty handed is hard to take

4:45pm

4:45pm

16 overs remaining today. can Nash get to his century. Moves to 77 with a lovely pull off Thomas for 4.

4:40pm

Drinks break. Got to be thirsty work out there as it's nice and sunny. Sussex 137-2 so these two have put on 90 now. Nash 72 and Goodwin 38

4:12pm

Lead is over 200 now. Sussex 118-2 so they are 201 ahead. Good crowd in too. Taking advantage of the fine weather and maybe here to see Goodwin for the last time. He's on 33, Nash 59

3:59pm

100 up for Sussex now. 108-2 so lead is approaching 200. After a torrid working over early on it is seeming a little easier to bat on now the ball has is 30 overs old. Sussex have the freedom to go for their shots too which helps. Every run from here on in is a bonus and Somerset must already be fearing the worst.

3:52pm

50 for Nash as he guides a four down to third man. Came off 71 balls with 5x4.

3:42pm

PLayers are back out and Mahmood opens down the hill to Goodwin.

3:24pm

Bruce is sat just behind me. Despite leaving the Argus over a year ago he is still a regular in the press box here.

3:23pm

3:23pm

3:23pm

That's tea and another good session for Sussex as they go for their cuppa and slice of cake on 91-2. Nash 43, Goodwin 21. If you aren't here already then get down to Hove to witness Goodwin batting for the last time here in the final session. That is unless he hangs around until tomorrow of course

3:16pm

Rehman getting very excited with a couple of appeals. Umpire not interested though.

3:13pm

Lovely straight drive from Nash off Mahmood for 4 takes him to 43. Can he push on which has been an issue this year for him. Goodwin on 20 and these two have added 43 together now. Sussex 90-2, lead by 177

2:51pm

2:50pm

Spin for the first time with Rehman

2:45pm

Another 4 for Goodwin. He's on fire!

2:43pm

More runs for Goodwin as he glances Mahmood for 4. Moves to 9. Sussex 56-2, leading by 143

2:40pm

Won't be a duck anyway as he cuts Thomas for 4 behind square. How many times have we seen that stroke over the years?

2:40pm

Come on Muzza, bow out in style. Would be lovely if he could make some runs but considering his form and the fact wickets are tumbling on this pitch it seems unlikely. He does love adversity though

2:38pm

WICKET. Poor shot from Wells and he goes. Fished at a wide one and edges behind for 20. Huge ovation for Goodwin as he strides to the crease for the last time at Hove

2:28pm

Trego switches to the top end now. Sussex 40-1

2:26pm

2:15pm

Thomas comes on in place of Trego. Sussex 30-1 but a lot of those runs have come from edges. Get the lead to 200 and that should be enough

1:58pm

1:58pm

1:58pm

WICKET. Joyce goes the very next ball. Not happy about it either. Looped up to 3rd slip and I think he thought it was off his pad. Kirby didn't help his mood by celebrating in his face either. Joyce made 7. Sussex 13-1. Wells in

1:57pm

DROP. Hildreth puts Joyce down at second slip off the bowling of Kirby

1:47pm

Warwickshire pick up a fourth batting point with 7 balls to spare. Means if they go on to win against Worc - which looks nailed on unless a monsoon blows in - then they will take the title regardless of the result here

1:41pm

Would have gone to Durham if the title had been resting on it so in a way I'm glad it is going to be all over this week

1:41pm

1:41pm

1:40pm

Kirby down the hill. Both bowlers beating the edge a few times. Nash and Joyce need to try to stick this out if they can

1:34pm

Here we go then. Nash and Joyce opening and Trego bowling from sea end. Just checked the CC prize money and the club gets £50k for coming 2nd and £15k for third. Players prize pot is £162k for 2nd and £87k for 3rd

1:25pm

1:25pm

WICKET. Somerset all out for 134 as Barrow goes for 21. Drove at a wide one from Hatchett and is caught by a diviing Brown behind the stumps. Lead is 87 then and a very good effort by Sussex's bowlers. Panesar 3-15, Magoffin 3-42 and Hatchett 3-25

1:20pm

WICKET. Hatchett strikes again, clipping the top of Mahmood's off stump. 133-9, still 88 behind.

1:08pm

Here come the umpires. Knock off these last 2 wickets in the next 5 overs and then stretch the lead to 250 and bowl Somerset out again cheaply. Simples

12:43pm

Warwickshire 320-4 at lunch so no dramatic collapse from them to keep Sussex's title hopes alive.

12:32pm

12:32pm

Monty 3-11 from 11.1 overs so far!

12:31pm

WICKET. Rehman reaches for a wide one from Monty and slaps it straight to backward point. Made 0, Somerset 124-8. And that's lunch. No question whose session that has been. Seven wickets down for 94 runs.

12:22pm

Will check the prize money later on marxo. Not sure it's that much difference between 2nd and 3rd. There is a bit of spin there but the seamers seem to be doing the most damage so far

12:22pm

12:22pm

12:21pm

WICKET. Hatchett strikes now as Thomas goes for a 4-ball duck, edging behind. Somerset 123-7 and in all kinds of bother. This could be over by tomorrow tea-time at this rate

12:15pm

WICKET. Another one for Monty as Snell holes out to mid-off for 8. Somerset 122-6. Looks like if you want to see Goodwin's final innings at Hove you better get down here today rather than tomorrow!

11:50am

WICKET. Anyon digs one in and Trego can't resist the hook. Doesn't get hold of it though and Nash takes a good tumbling catch at deep square leg. Trego made 22 off just 20 balls. Snell new man 106-5

11:47am

11:47am

Anyon also into the attack in place of Mags and he can go for a few

11:46am

100 up. Runs flowing. Think Somerset have decided attack is the best form of defence

11:33am

4 consecutive 4s from this over from Mags.

11:24am

Loved the Paralympics. Watched the blind long jump which was fascinating. Great experience although my 3 year old asked if we could go home after about 20 minutes. An ice cream seemed to win her over!

11:23am

11:23am

11:23am

WICKET. Monty strikes now as Hildreth picks out Prior at short mid-wicket. Awful shot that. Goes for 1. Somerset are now 71-4 having been 68-1 18 balls ago.

11:17am

WICKET. Jones goes for 30. Mags makes the breakthrough with Yardy taking a good catch at second slip. Somerset 71-3

11:09am

WICKET. And it's the one they wanted as Tresco is pinned lbw by Mags for 31. Somerset 68-1

11:06am

20,000 career first class runs for Tresco as he hits Mags for 4

11:02am

Going to have Monty now from the sea end. Tresco and Jones hardly troubled so far. Somerset 61-0

10:55am

Think it was the news we were all waiting for 3rdman. There was no way they could have offered him another deal with the amount of runs he has scored this season. Gave him every chance to come good and it just didn't happen. Going to be a hard man to replace though. Asked Robbo about a possible coaching role and he said they'd like to maintain contact but as Goodwin lives in Oz it might be hard. He may well continue playing in Oz for another season

10:53am

10:53am

Sorry TRR can't really answer that as I was at the Paralympics. General feeling about was that 300 would have been about par. Robbo praised Hatchett for his performances in the 2nds this season and said he deserves a chance

10:52am

10:52am

Somerset moving along without much alarm. Tresco needs another 3 to reach 20,000 FC runs

10:35am

Just one over from Nash and now it's Magoffin down the slope. Usually comes up the hill so this is an experiment. Might as well. Not much left to play for

10:31am

Hatchett to open at the sea end.

10:28am

Nash to open the bowling this morning. Tresco on strike

10:27am

Here come the players. Key man to get rid of is Trescothick. Early breakthrough could set Sussex on their way nicely as Somerset batting is looking a little weak

10:12am

Good morning and welcome to Hove. Sorry for those expecting me here yesterday. I was at the Paralympics and thought my colleague Andy would have been running the blog instead. Probably good job he didn't as the opening day didn't go so well. Sussex only picked up one batting point while Warwickshire routed Worcestershire. The title is all but dead but Sussex will still want to end the season strongly. Somerset remuse in about 15 minutes on 30-1 with the weather set fair