Sussex v Lancashire: Day 2

Lancashire 197-4 (65) That Wright drop is looking more and more costly. Croft has just moved onto an 87-ball half-century containing seven fours. Make that eight - he's just belted Luke W through mid-wicket for another. Stand now worth 99 with Chilton on 71 and his partner 54. Collymore had another spell but has now given way to RMJ for his first stint from the sea end. Four overs remaining after this one.

Lancashire 171-4 (55) Good stand this by Chilton and Croft but it should have ended a few minutes ago when Croft, on 22, edged Damien Wright to second slip but the other Wright shelled it. Croft has since moved onto 38 and has just greeted Luke's return to the attack by lofting him over mid on for four. Chilton's half-century came off 127 balls with nine fours and he is now 61. Sussex need to part these two before the close if they can.

Lancashire 131-4 (46.2) It was Wright and Aga after tea but we're now seeing Tom Smith bowl his left-arm spin from the sea end and Damien has replaced his namesake for a second burst down the slope. Chilton is playing with typical watchfulness and has gone on to 42. Batting at No5 seems to suit him after some problems as an opener. Steven Croft is 16 not out and playing well.

WICKET: Lancashire 102-4 (37.4) Prince out for 56 two balls before tea. Luke Wright the successful bowler as the South African plays on playing a square cut. Just what Sussex needed that and they are probably ahead of the game as a result. Chilton on 28 when they resume after the interval.

Lancashire 95-3 (36) Collymore's come back for another burst up the hill after four overs from Aga but Prince, in particular, looks well set. He's just got to an 87-ball 50 in his first first-class innings since he made 150 in the third Test against the Aussies last month. He looks a class act. Talking of the Aussies, they were bowled out for 168 in the one-dayer with Shahid Afridi getting a six-fer. In other news, Yardy has just placed himself at a sort of short mid-off position about 10 15 yards from the bat for a mis-placed drive by Prince. Two overs to go before tea.

Lancashire 63-3 (25) Double bowling change. Aga just bowled his second over from the sea end (a maiden) and Luke Wright has just replaced his namesake Damien. Prince is 35 and batting well, Chilton 14. Good crowd in here again today. Hope this weather is a portent for the summer ahead.

Lancashire 51-3 (21) Wright bowling really well here with no luck, Prince and Chilton have both edged good-length balls just short of the expectant cordon. RMJ as steady as ever and enjoying his duel with his old university chum Chilton. As I speak another edge, from Chilton, has dropped short of Luke Wright at second slip. That cordon might have to move forward half a yard. Prince 27, Chilton 10.

WICKET: Lancashire 31-3 (14) Success for RMJ in his second over as Du Plessis nicks an away-swinger and Prior, diving to his right, takes a really good catch with the ball dieing on him all the time. Prince looks in good nick. He's just pulled a short ball from Wright for four to move to 22 and has Mark Chilton with him. As I predicted, Wright is having a spell up the slope and his second ball to Prince was nicked and dropped just short of Luke Wright at second slip.

Lancashire 26-2 (12) Things have settled down a bit now but Collymore is still swinging it from the sea end. He's into his seventh over while RMJ has just taken over from Wright at the Cromwell Road end. Wright said before the game that he didn't fancy bowling uphill much but now he's seen how much it seems to be swinging he might fancy a dart up the hill. Aga, who does swing it, could bowl well too.

WICKET: Lancashire 2-2 (2.5) Fifth ball after lunch and Collymore strikes again. Swung one into Horton's pads and he's a goner for 1. Great start by Colly... and Sussex.

LUNCH: Lancashire 2-1 Great start for Sussex, just what they needed after a difficult morning. Damien Wright bowled the opening over from the Cromwell Road. Wonder when two 'overseas' bowlers last took the new ball for Sussex? Imran and Le Roux perhaps? Back after turkey and chips.

WICKET: Lancashire 1-1 (0.3) Collymore strikes with his third ball, drawing Tom Smith forward and finding a thin edge which Prior took at knee height. Great start for Sussex, Horton is 1 not out and the new batsman is Ashwell Prince.

SUSSEX 289 all out (120) Collymore lbw to Chapple for a duck. Looked a bit harsh, not much of an appeal from behind the wicket but unpires don't normally need much encouragement to send tail-enders on their way. Aga is 1 not out. Anderson has finished with 32-11-56-6, his ninth Champo five-for for Lancashire. Sussex scored 42 runs in 22 overs this morning and lost five wickets. Lancs will have three overs to face before luncheon.

Sussex 289-9 (120) Rare misjudgement of line by Anderson presented Sussex with four leg-side byes to inch them closer to 300. The Pakistan-Australia one-day series has started today in Dubai but no Yasir Arafat in the Pakistan side. They've gone with Shahid Afridi in the all-rounder's spot.

WICKET: Sussex 284-9 (118.2) Anderson again, this time with a fantastic yorker which was too good for RMJ who has gone for 67. Poor old RMJ was knocked off his feet. Aga is 1 and Corey Collymore, who apparently has been working on his batting during the winter, is last man. 16 needed for another batting point, suggest Aga is going to have to get them.

WICKET: Sussex 276-8 (116) Third wicket for Chapple as Wright goes for four. He hit a lovely four off the back foot to get off the mark off Anderson but now has been trapped in front, neither forward or back, and umpire Hartley had his finger up pretty sharpish. 3-29 in 20 overs this morning and RMJ might have to start throwing the bat soon. Raggy Aga is the new batsman. He can bat but this is quality bowling again from Lancashire. Peter Moores must be delighted with the discipline his attack have shown.

WICKET: Sussex 271-7 (114.3) Anderson switches ends and gets his fifth wicket straight away with Smith leg before for 10. Looked out from side on and Smith shuffled off with the air of someone accepting his fate. Played well for an hour though, 21 runs in 17 overs with RMJ. Here's Damien Wright for his first first-class innings for his third county. He has decent career stats and can bat. Can Sussex get to 300? Looking doubtful.

Sussex 263-6 (110.2) The ball continues to swing and batting continues to be difficult for Sussex. Nearly an hour's play and 17 runs added so far. Smith onto 5, mostly consisting of nudges and deflections, and RMJ 58. Smith and Chapple continue to carry the attack.

Whatever happens, Sussex will have to make one change next week at Hampshire after Luke Wright was called into the England Lions team for a four-dayer against West Indies at Derby, starting on Thursday week. Good confidence boost for Wright who will be hoping to make the cut when the 30 man Twenty20 World Cup squad is trimmed (or rather scythed) down to 15 next Thursday.

Sussex 259-6 (107) Just 12 runs in the first 40 minutes but Lancashire have tended to bowl too wide and the batsmen have not had to play at a lot of deliveries. RMJ has just clipped Smith off his toes for three through mid-wicket and Smith is onto 2. Just briefly seen Mark Robinson who had a benefit of a replay on the Joyce dismissal. Seems to have been an inside edge onto Joyce's leg pole. First bowling change now with Glen Chapple replacing Anderson, who has bowled five overs this morning.

WICKET: Sussex 250-6 (99.4) Joyce is out for 90 and it's a fourth wicket for Anderson. He's just lost his leg stump, bowled through the gate though it's hard to give a definitive description from side-on. Shame for Joyce after he'd battled through the first day so well but he did expect the first hour this morning to be tough and he's been proved right. Tom Smith has just got off the mark first ball with a single off Anderson who is now bowling to RMJ on 53. Lancashire tails are up though.

Sussex 250-5 (98) Good morning everyone and welcome to our second day's coverage here at Hove. The weather is perfect so we'll definitely get a full day's play and Sussex are trying to build on their overnight 247-5. Three runs have been added so far with Ed Joyce on 90 and Robin Martin-Jenkins 53. Joyce's single took Sussex to their second batting point. James Anderson has bowled one over from the sea end and Tom Smith is into his second over down the slope. Don't forget this is an interactive blog so if you want to leave any comments or questions about the cricket (or anything else) just scroll down.