Richard Montgomerie continued to defy the pain of a badly bruised wrist as Sussex made an encouraging start against Championship leaders Hampshire at West End today.

Montgomerie has had to take painkillers since suffering the injury against Warwickshire last Friday, but he made 116, his first century of the season, on Monday and continued where he'd left off after Sussex had won the toss in perfect batting conditions.

Two boundaries in the first over from Alan Mullally were the ideal start and after two hours together he'd helped Murray Goodwin put on 83 for Sussex's first wicket despite a desperately slow over rate by the hosts.

Montgomerie's only moment of alarm came in the 12th over when he edged Alec Morris to third slip on 22. Will Kendall claimed the catch but umpire Tony Clarkson and Montgomerie remain unmoved, Clarkson having decided that the ball had gone to ground just short of the fielder.

Goodwin made a sketchy start, but on a good pitch he soon began to play himself back into form after scoring just 15 runs in his previous four Championship innings.

There has been speculation that the Zimbabwean might drop down the order to try and rediscover his best form, but Montgomerie thinks that would be a bad move.

He said today: "When I first came to the club I spent most of the season opening with Toby Peirce and we put on five partnerships of a hundred or more.

"You need that continuity and I'd like Murray to be my regular opening partner. He's a quality player who is fun to bat with. He's had one or two poor scores, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got a hundred very soon."