On the day the Zimbabwean squad arrived in England, Murray Goodwin offered a reminder of what they have missed since he walked away from the international stage three years ago.

Goodwin made a classy 96 on the second day of the Championship match against Kent, easily the highest score of a contest dominated, for the first two days at least, by the bowlers. But only he knows why he did not convert it into a century.

With three balls of the day remaining he played his first false shot, a swish across the line at James Tredwell's off break to fall leg before. Mind you, Goodwin could have been forgiven for thinking he was going to be left high and dry by his team-mates after five wickets had gone down at the other end for just eight runs while he moved through the 90s.

When Goodwin and Robin Martin-Jenkins were putting on 82 in 18 overs for the fifth wicket after tea batsmen were on top for the first time in the match. But Mark Ealham returned to take three wickets with his skiddy medium pacers and Tredwell claimed two as Sussex collapsed from 166-4 to 174-9, a lead of 268.

Goodwin's contribution could still prove to be a match-winning one although, after their experience at Lord's last week, Sussex won't be taking anything for granted until the 20th Kent wicket has been secured.

Goodwin played the last of his 19 Tests three years ago and turned down the opportunity to make an international comeback when he was approached by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union last summer about his availability for the World Cup. Time will tell how he and the other players who have turned their back on Zimbabwe will be missed in the forthcoming Tests against England and the one-day series which follows.

Not that Sussex supporters will worry unduly.

They will be happy if Goodwin reproduces the form which has brought him nearly 3,000 runs for the county since he replaced Michael Bevan as overseas player in 2001.

On a pitch which batsmen never really feel in on, Goodwin had to get his head down to see off the new ball threat and there was an escape on ten when he only just made his ground to beat Michael Carberry's direct hit from mid-wicket.

But he played with increasing assurity, collecting the majority of his 11 boundaries with fluent drives or trademark cuts.

He lost his opening partner in the 12th over when Richard Montgomerie played on to Sheriyar and saw his middle stump uprooted. Sheriyar then got enough movement off the seam to claim his seventh success of the match when Tony Cottey was leg before in the 16th over.

Tredwell struck with his second delivery, aided by an excellent stumping from Jones when Chris Adams overbalanced trying to drive through the off side and lifted his back leg.

Tim Ambrose was taken low down at slip off Martin Saggers, but all the time Goodwin was picking up the tempo.

Martin-Jenkins caught the mood until he tried to pull Ealham and got a bottom edge to spark a disappointing lower order collapse.

The tidy Jones stumped Prior down the leg side and Ealham removed Innes and Mushtaq in the same over. The celebrations which followed Goodwin's dismissal confirmed that Kent are right back in a contest which an hour earlier he appeared to be putting out of their reach.

Sussex had earlier gained a handy first innings lead of 94 after taking the last seven Kent wickets for 101 when play started 15 minutes late because of overnight rain.

The breakthrough was made by James Kirtley who removed Matthew Walker and Greg Blewett in successive overs after the fourth wicket pair had added 76.

Walker was unfortunate because he should not have been on strike when he was caught at slip.

Two balls earlier he had pushed the ball into the off side for a single and ended up with five when Innes's throw deflected off the stumps and went for four overthrows.

Walker was told to stand his ground by umpire John Hampshire and admitted afterwards that the incident had affected his concentration.

Ealham and Tredwell steadied the innings after Jones had lost his off stump to Jason Lewry, putting on 44 for the seventh wicket before Mushtaq claimed the first of three wickets when Ealham was leg before offering no shot.

Sussex's perenial problem last season was finishing off teams, but the early signs are that the little leg spinner should be able to solve that. He unhinged Saggers and Sheriyar in successive overs either side of a second success for Innes as Kent lost their last four wickets for 22 runs.

Sussex 2nd Innings: 174 for 9 (1st Innings 279); Kent 185 all out