MARK ROBINSON destroyed his old county in the National League yesterday, but confessed afterwards: "At times I bowled awfully."

The 32-year-old Sussex seamer took 4-28 as Sussex made it two wins out of two in the second division of the National League with a 68 runs victory at Northampton.

Robinson said: "To be honest I struggled. My rhythm was shocking. I've been so pleased how I have come back from the knee injury I had in pre-season so to get four wickets was very pleasing because at times I felt awful and it was a real battle.

"Every three balls or so I would get one to swing and it felt right then I'd bowl an absolute pie which either went for four or took a wicket, that's the game sometimes."

Slow left-armer Umer Rashid supported Robinson with 4-32 and both were backed up by a fielding display which skipper Chris Adams described as 'awesome', the highlight being when Rashid leapt backwards, goalkeeper-style, to catch Matthew Hayden one-handed on the square leg boundary off Robinson.

Added Robinson: "We had a really good fielding session with (coach) Peter Moores before the game and our fielding was magnificent.

"Everything Peter had talked about we did and to come out of it with a victory was brilliant, especially as we lost to Glamorgan in the Championship at the weekend after dominating most of the game."

Richard Montgomerie (ankle) and Alex Edwards (shin) missed the game but both should be fit for Friday's World Cup warm-up against the South Africans at Hove (10.45).

Meanwhile, Sussex are unlikely to comply with South Africa's request to use all 15 members of their squad in the game.

Coach Bob Woolmer had hoped that Sussex would use the four players not selected in their team.

But Sussex General Manager, David Gilbert, is not keen on the idea.

He said: "I think it would devalue the game and also deprive some of our players of the chance to play against world-class opposition, it is an important a game for us as it is for the South Africans and one we want to win for our own development.

"If the weather is good it could be a major money-spinner for us and I think the public would have a right to feel ripped off if they turned up to see four South Africans in the Sussex team."

Tickets for the game, priced £12, are on sale at the County Ground, but there will be admission on the day.

The South Africans will be practicing at Hove every day this week and will attend a reception hosted by Cllr Francis Tonks, the mayor of Brighton and Hove, at the Royal Pavilion tomorrow night.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.