Richard Montgomerie's determination to prove he is no one-season wonder was in evidence at Horsham over the weekend as he led a Sussex fightback against Leicestershire.

Montgomerie carried his bat for a superb 122 to help Sussex restrict their first innings deficit to just 17 runs in the rain-affected Championship game.

15 wickets fell on an absorbing second day, seven of them to Devon Malcolm to leave him three short of 1,000 victims in first-class cricket.

Leicestershire had extended that advantage to 111 for the loss of both openers by the close, but their hopes of setting Sussex a substantial fourth innings target were ruined by Sunday's rain.

After three inspections umpires George Sharp and Vanburn Holder abandoned play at 4pm because the bowler's run-up at the John Dew End was too damp.

Sussex, or at least their supporters, would certainly have been happier to see the black clouds banking up over Cricketfield Road for most of yesterday. Chasing any total over 300 on a pitch which has given plenty of help to the bowlers for the first two days will not be easy.

Still, if Montgomerie can reproduce his first innings form anything is possible.

He reeled off eight centuries last year to help Sussex win the second division title, but this was his first since promotion and how Sussex needed it after Malcolm, another Northamptonshire old boy, had helped reduce Sussex to 59-5 with three top order wickets.

But the county's decision to play an extra batsman was vindicated as Montgomerie shared crucial half-century stands with Robin Martin-Jenkins, Matt Prior and Mark Davis.

On a pitch where batsmen never really feel 'in', Montgomerie prospered simply by playing every ball on it's merits. Anything outside off stump was usually left alone, anything straight was tucked through square with quiet efficiency.

Montgomerie wasn't the only Sussex player celebrating after scoring his 13th hundred for the county.

Martin-Jenkins took the last three Leicestershire first innings wickets in seven balls in the morning to finish with a career-best 7-51 while Davis was awarded his county cap by skipper Chris Adams before the start of play.

The South African, who later scored a valuable 34 coming in at No.9, made a big contribution to the promotion-winning effort last season and he was thrilled that his efforts have been recognised.

He said: "They don't have a capping system in South Africa, but I was aware of the tradition that it is in England and it was a great honour for me, especially as it was totally unexpected. It was a very proud moment."

SCORES: Leicestershire 264 (Wells 86 not out, Stevens 50, Martin-Jenkins 7-51), Sussex 247 (Montgomerie 122 not out, Malcolm 7-76) and 94-2 (Maddy 31 not out, Bevan 28 not out).