Murray Goodwin made a career-best 210 and then predicted it would set up another success for Championship-chasing Sussex.

Goodwin's second double hundred provided the platform for Sussex to smash an astonishing 521-8 on the first day against Essex at Colchester.

They have closed the gap on first division leaders Surrey, who start their match against Leicestershire today, to just one point after collecting maximum batting bonus points.

Matt Prior weighed in with an unbeaten century off just 86 balls, his third of the season, while opener Richard Montgomerie made 96 in a first wicket stand of 202.

Goodwin eclipsed his previous best 203, made against Nottinghamshire two years ago, hitting 30 fours and two sixes before he became one of four victims for Essex's new overseas signing Mohammad Akram.

"It's definitely up there with the best innings I've played," said Goodwin. "The wicket is already deteriorating and at times it was just a case of hanging in there.

"You never felt confident enough to get on top of the bowling, you had to wait for the bad balls so it was a battle of concentration.

"But I haven't been doing that well in the Championship and I was really hungry for a big score."

Essex's misery was complete when Tony Pallidino was taken to hospital after suffering a badly dislocated shoulder when he fell awkwardly.

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