Billy Taylor checked Hampshire's progress with two wickets after the visitors had made a spectacular start to today's crucial Benson and Hedges Cup tie at Hove.

James Hamblin and Neil Johnson had 50 off the last ball of the fourth over, but Taylor removed pinch-hitter Hamblin and later had Derek Kenway caught at deep square leg.

James Kirtley nipped in with the wicket of Zimbabwean Johnson and Michael Yardy snared John Crawley in his fourth over as Hampshire reached 141-4 from 30 overs.

Sussex had been on the receiving end of a Hamblin whirlwind at the end of last season when he smashed 60 not out in a National League game and he was quickly onto the offensive again this morning.

Robin Martin-Jenkins was withdrawn from the attack after he had bowled two overs at a cost of 31 runs this morning.

His first over went for 22 as Hamblin collected a boundary before coming down the track to belt the medium-pacer over long on for six. To add to Martin-Jenkins' frustration he also conceded four leg byes.

In his next over Martin-Jenkins conceded three more fours, one hammered to the long off fence off the front foot by Hamblin and two more pulled through mid-wicket by Johnson.

Kirtley did not escape punishment either although Hamblin was fortunate when another big hit through the leg side ended up sailing high over the two slips to safety.

But Hamblin showed he can play shots too. Two textbook drives through the covers in the same over doubled his boundary count, the second of which took his side past 50.

The first wicket pair had put on 63 when Kirtley made a desperately needed breakthrough in the sixth over when Johnson was caught behind off a thick edge as he played forward to a ball which must have deviated sharply off the seam.

Sussex were celebrating again when Taylor removed Hamblin with the next delivery. Aiming to clear the rope at mid-wicket, Hamblin got right under an attempted pull and the ball sailed high into the air where wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose was waiting.

Hamblin's 33 came off just 20 balls with four fours and a six and John Crawley and Derek Kenway made sure the good start didn't go to waste.

Hampshire weren't scoring at 13 an over any more, but Crawley showed his considerable prowess off the back foot to collect boundaries off Martin-Jenkins and Taylor as the third wicket pair put on 40 in 13 overs.

But Taylor struck again in the 19th over when Kirtley ran in from deep square leg to take a good catch after Kenway had mis-timed a pull shot.

Michael Yardy replaced Taylor in rhe 21st over and Sussex were back in contention when he removed Crawley in the 27th over, Kirtley diving forward at extra cover to intercept a mis-timed off drive.

Much now depended on Robin Smith if Hampshire were to make the most of the platform provided by Hamblin.