Sussex struggle at home; Kent and Essex both start well
Monday 2 May 2016 12:29, UK
Ben Raine recorded figures of 4-30 to help bowl out Sussex cheaply and hand Leicestershire control of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match away at Hove.
Raine took two early wickets before Ed Joyce (56) and Ross Taylor (35) instigated a Sussex recovery, only for Mark Davis' side to lose four wickets in 13 balls on their way to being dismissed for just 163 on Sunday.
Leicestershire lost Angus Robson early on in their reply and saw Neil Dexter dismissed lbw by Ollie Robinson for 29, but opener Paul Horton's 71 not out means the visitors will resume on 140 for 2 and just 23 runs adrift.
Elsewhere, Mitchell Claydon took 4-59 and Daniel Bell-Drummond made an unbeaten 62 to put Kent on top at home to Glamorgan.
The visitors lost James Kettleborough for a duck in the first over and were five down for just 103 when Matt Coles trapped David Lloyd lbw, with Craig Meschede's brisk 63 the highest score in Glamorgan being dismissed for 260.
Kent then made a fast start to the evening session at Canterbury, reaching 124 without loss at the close, with Bell-Drummond joined at the crease by debutant Tom Latham (48 not out).
Alastair Cook continued his impressive form for Essex with an unbeaten half century during a rain-affected first day against Worcestershire at New Road.
Just 44 overs were possible as the afternoon session was washed out, with the visitors going well at 144-1 when bad light brought an early end to proceedings.
Having lost Nick Browne (15) in the third over, Cook (53 not out) and Tom Westley (70 not out) put on 89 before the first weather delay and extended their unbroken stand to 128 when play resumed.
At Northamptonshire, Shiv Thakor (60 not out) and Tony Palladino (49) made an eighth wicket partnership of 105 to guide Derbyshire out of a middle order slump away at the County Ground.
The visitors started brightly and reached 100 with the loss of just captain Ben Godleman for 32, but Hamish Rutherford's dismissal was the first of four wickets in 26 balls to leave them in trouble at 133 for 6.
Derbyshire reached 275 for 8 before play was suspended due to bad light at the County Ground, with Rory Kleinveldt (3-58) the pick of the Northants bowlers.
