Tony Cottey revived Sussex with his second successive century yesterday, but confessed to feeling 'flat' afterwards.

His side wasted the opportunity to take control of their Championship match against Essex at Arundel.

Cottey followed his 188 against Warwickshire a fortnight ago with 107, the 26th century of his career and eighth for Sussex.

But after putting on 178 for the fourth wicket with Tim Ambrose, Sussex subsided from 231-3 to 282-8 at the close and they still trail the visitors by 58 runs.

Cottey hit ten fours and a six but admitted he should have gone on and made a more substantial score.

He said: "Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to get a hundred but I feel a little bit flat to be honest.

"The last 30 or 40 runs I scored were quite easy really because their bowlers were getting very tired and started to look a bit flat.

"When I got out it was the easiest it had been for me out there all day."

Cottey's departure prompted a collapse which saw them lose five wickets for 51 in 18 overs, three of them falling to slow left-armer Paul Grayson whose victims included Ambrose for 88.

Cottey added: "The ball definitely turned more than it did on the first day and hopefully we can get a bit of a lead which would then bring Mushtaq Ahmed into play.

"We've got more to offer as a side in terms of spin and the game is pretty nicely set up at the moment."

Cottey is in the last year of a five-year contract at Hove and is relishing the opportunity to show that he still has plenty to offer.

"My form was pretty good last year but I wasn't consistent although I don't really know why that was," he said. I've felt in good nick this season and fortunately I have been able to convert it into hundreds in the last two games.

"I haven't set myself any goals or targets. I'm just taking each ball as it comes and enjoying my cricket. It's just nice to be playing in a side which is challenging to win things."

And Cottey believes it's only a matter of time before Ambrose gets his first hundred of the season.

"Tim's pretty desperate to get a hundred but I hope he doesn't put too much pressure on himself. His time will come."

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