Century-maker Tony Cottey has admitted he feared he would never get another chance to score a first-class hundred.

The 38-year-old batsman celebrated his second Championship appearance of what is widely expected to be his final season with a grafting 185 over the weekend to guide Sussex into a commanding lead.

He was only three runs short of his best score for Sussex when Kent spinner Min Patel turned one sharply from leg to off to clean bowl him just before lunch on Sunday.

Not a bad way to mark his first innings in the Championship since scoring 56 against Leicestershire last September on the day Sussex won the title.

Since then his diet of cricket has been some unmemorable limited overs stuff, second-team action and a near-washout when he got his Championship chance at Worcester.

No wonder he was in no mood to give it away when asked to revive Sussex from a perilous 43-2 on Saturday.

It was an opportunity he suspected might never come.

He admitted: "From my point of view it was good to get a chance in Championship cricket.

"In the one-dayers I've been going in in certain situations and probably not doing as well as I should have.

"The Championship went really well last year and it's nice to have another chance.

"I've enjoyed playing in the second team, it has been really good fun, but if this is to be my last year it's nice to go out playing first team cricket."

That little word "if" might raise a few eyebrows among those expecting Cottey's current one-year deal to be his last.

He added: "In my own mind I know roughly what I'm going to be doing but I'm not going to make any hard and fast decisions.

"I had a great day on Saturday, it was fantastic. I did something I didn't think I was going to do again and scored another hundred.

"It didn't look as if I was going to play again. To be chosen is fantastic so thanks to the people who picked me and to get a hundred is the icing on the cake.

"Pride says if you've played as long as I do you want to finish your career in the first team. This could not have come at a better time.

"I'm thinking if I'm going to play second team cricket I'm going to look as if I'm enjoying it, captain the side, try and do everything properly and try and finish in a professional way.

"In the back of your mind, though, you always want to play first-team cricket."

And enjoy the little things like driving out of the Hove gates on a Saturday evening in a nice car, immaculate in your club uniform, with the sun shining and your 114 not out still on the scoreboard.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Sussex and their supporters were perfectly happy to see Cottey take five hours to reach 100.

The dancing feet are still in good working order. His clever footwork in getting to the pitch of the ball and taking the fight to the Kent spinners was in stark contrast to the visiting batsmen, who seemed spellbound and crease-bound when facing Mushtaq Ahmed and Mark Davis.

He is still very sharp between the wickets too. He had to be as he helped Murray Goodwin put on 136 for the third wicket, then played an anchor role for the more expansive Chris Adams and Matt Prior.

Cottey said: "It probably wasn't the most fluent innings I've ever had.

"Me and Muz batted through a period when it was quite tough and they were bowling well.

"After that Grizz (Adams) and Matt came in and timed it really well and I got to a stage where I was batting for them and getting singles.

"I should think after tea I probably got about 39 or 40 singles, it was that kind of knock."

For Sussex, it was pure gold.