Modest Murray upstages Ramps in style

10:46am Monday 21st May 2007

It was going to take some performance to upstage Mark Ramprakash at Hove on Saturday but Murray Goodwin managed it.

The 34-year-old became the second player in the match against Surrey to make a double hundred and in doing so he could just have revitalised Sussex's Championship defence.

Goodwin batted throughout the final day to finish with an unbeaten 205 after top-scoring with 119 in Sussex's first innings.

Skipper Chris Adams was no less impressive, lodging a confidenceboosting first hundred of the season as the fourth wicket pair put on 253 in 52 overs.

Ramprakash's 266 not out had raised Surrey's hopes of a first win since promotion to division one.

But when the players shook hands just in time to watch extra time at Wembley their attack had been left demoralised by Goodwin and Adams.

It was a near-faultless performance by Goodwin who did not offer a genuine chance in either of his innings. In fact, the only time he looked in trouble came right at the end when Alistair Brown, bowling his very occasional off-breaks, was convinced he had trapped him in front when he was on 189.

But umpire Graham Burgess disagreed and a furious Brown snatched his cap off him at the end of the over and bowled his next one with his headgear still on. Burgess clearly preferred watching Goodwin bat than Brown bowl and who could blame him.

He faced 268 balls for his 205 and hit 28 fours in making his fourth double- hundred for Sussex but the first since his record-breaking 335 in the Championship winning game against Leicestershire in 2003.

Goodwin insisted afterwards that despite demoralising innings defeats against Warwickshire and Kent, the camp has remained positive. Now, after playing such a big part in helping stop the rot, he is confident Sussex can push on.

He said: "After losing a couple of matches this game was a challenge for us. You have to look back and analyse why we did lose those two games but at the same time you have to remain positive and keep the dressing room a happy place and we have done that.

"Saving this game could be pivotal.

But the county season is a long one and you just have to take each game and each different challenge it offers as they come. But I think we'll be okay."

In the absence of Mike Yardy, Sussex need their experienced players to produce. After scoring a hundred in the pre-season game against MCC, Goodwin's highest score in six subsequent innings in the Championship was 31.

He added: "I had a couple of bad decisions against Kent but I wasn't too worried because I knew my own game was good. I know you are only as good as your next innings and as long as your preparation is okay then there should be no problem.

"But it was nice to get runs under pressure because Surrey were in a position to turn us over - they are a good side with a decent bowling attack."

Goodwin prefers to leave the superlatives about his performance to others. He did not even know that his hundred in the first innings was the 50th of his career. It is also the third time that he has made centuries in both innings for Sussex.

Adams's contribution should not be underestimated either. When he joined Goodwin shortly before lunch, after Chris Nash had been caught at mid-wicket, Sussex still needed 142 to make Surrey bat again.

His first 50 came off 110 balls and contained three fours and it was only when safety was in sight that he expanded his range.

DELIGHTED: Chris Adams Modest Goodwin upstages Ramps in style GOODWIN'S DOUBLE HUNDREDS FOR SUSSEX 203* v Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge) 2001 210 v Essex (Colchester) 2003 335* v Leicestershire (Hove) 2003 205* v Surrey (Hove) 2007 TWO HUNDREDS IN THE SAME MATCH 115 & 203* v Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge) 2001 119 & 205* v Surrey (Hove) 2007 His next 50 runs came off just 41 balls and he reached his hundred with a six off Nayan Doshi which landed in the practice nets at the Cromwell Road end.

Will it be a turning point? Who knows. Sussex are likely to encounter seamer-friendly conditions again at Worcester this week but will have a fullstrength bowling attack to choose from and key batsmen are now in form which is a start.

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