Murray Goodwin launched the innings with a barrage of attacking blows as Sussex got off to an excellent start to their crucial Championship match against Hampshire at Hove today.

Coach Peter Moores had called for his senior players to perform and the openers responded.

Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie put together their third century opening stand of the season as Sussex made a mockery of Hampshire captain Robin Smith's decision to bowl first.

In fairness to Smith, the toss was made under overcast skies and a greenish pitch must have encouraged Smith to think his bowlers could do some damage with the new ball, especially as his attack was strengthened by the return of Alan Mullally after two matches out with a side strain. Instead, the pitch turned out to be easy paced and Hampshire's attack, Mullally apart, lacked control and direction early on.

At one stage Goodwin looked on course to post a hundred before lunch, but he was six short at the break with Sussex 145-0.

James Tomlinson, in particular, struggled to find a consistent line early on. Goodwin drove him through the covers for two boundaries in his first over and that more or less set the tone for a morning of Sussex domination.

Coach Peter Moores had called for a 'big performance' from his senior players before the start and he must have been delighted with the way his openers responded.

Goodwin hammered three boundaries through the offside in the 14th over, the first from Neil Johnson who had replaced Tomlinson at the sea end, to bring up the 50.

Johnson was replaced by Shaun Udal after just three overs, the sixth bowling change by Smith who'd already been forced to bring Mullally back at the Cromwell Road end to try and staunch the flow of runs.

Goodwin had already reached his sixth half-century of the season, made in 65 minutes off 71 balls with eight fours, the majority of them punched confidentally off the front foot through the covers.

And in the 28th over, after both batsmen had driven Udal through point off the back foot to the boundary, the pair had compiled their first century partnership since they put on 146 against Kent at Tunbridge Wells back in May.

In contrast to his partner, Montgomerie was more watchful but he still fastened onto the loose ball and the straight two driven boundaries off Tomlinson which flew across a lightning-fast outfield were as good as any stroke played by his partner.

Goodwin pull-drove Udal to the mid-wicket boundary in the next over as he closed in on a century before lunch, but a maiden from Jimmy Adams left him just short at lunch but with his side handily placed.