Goodwin rolls back the years (From The Argus)

Goodwin rolls back the years

5:43pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Murray Goodwin scored only his second half century of the season in his final innings at Hove to put Sussex in control against Somerset.

Goodwin finished unbeaten on 51 and received a huge round of applause from the crowd after announcing he was to leave Sussex at the end of the season this week.

The 39-year-old shared in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 139 with Chris Nash whose century (106 not out) was overshadowed slightly by the veteran batsman's efforts.

The pair took Sussex to 186-2 at the close of play, a lead of 273 after they had skittled Somerset for 134 earlier in the day.

Somerset had resumed on 30-1 chasing Sussex's first innings total of 221 but when Steve Magoffin trapped Marcus Trescothick for 31 they lost their last nine wickets for 66.

Magoffin also removed Chris Jones to finish with figures of 3-42 while Monty Panesar picked up the wickets of Steve Snell, Abdur Reham and James Hildreth to claim 3-15.

Lewis Hatchett then clean up the tail in his first appearance since April for figures of 3-25 as Sussex earned an 87-run first innings lead.

Sussex lost skipper Ed Joyce and Luke Wells cheaply as they looked to stretch their advantage but Nash and Goodwin put the game virtually beyond Somerset.

Nash brought up his 50 off 71 balls and moved to his third century of the season off a further 86.

Goodwin scored his 50 off 119 balls and will resume in the morning hoping to surpass his highest score of the season of 74.