JAMES Kirtley produced his best bowling performance since last May yesterday and believes it was all down to a more relaxed approach.

Watched by his parents, Bob and Pip, and brother David, who is studying in Cardiff, the Sussex fast bowler took 5-49 as Glamorgan were bowled out for 149 on the second day of the Championship match in Cardiff.

Opener Toby Peirce then helped Sussex establish an overall lead of 209 with an unbeaten 79 as the county closed on 136-5, an overall lead of 209.

Kirtley said: "In the previous games I felt I was in a good rhythm and was a little unlucky. Perhaps I thought that without Jason Lewry around the pressure was on me to take the majority of the wickets.

"But I realise that we have got great back-up bowlers now, even when Jason isn't around, and I felt more relaxed going into this game.

"Getting Steve James out first up with a leg side half-volley was just what I needed. It was probably the tightest I have bowled for a while."

Kirtley was out to the penultimate ball of the day to give off-spinner Robert Croft his third wicket, but Glamorgan will still have to make the biggest score of the match to win and they are without skipper Matthew Maynard who broke his little finger during practice on Wednesday.

Added Kirtley: "Some of the batting on both sides hasn't been as disciplined as it should have been, but Shaun Humphries and Umer Rashid were superb for us on the first day and Toby's innings could be the difference between the sides.

"We don't have to rely on some our big names to get the scores anymore. There is some slow turn now so Umer will come more into the game, the plan today is just to bat them out of the game and put them under pressure again."

Peirce scored his second half-century of the summer and is confident it can help Sussex win their first Championship victory of the season.

"They are going to have to get the highest score of the match without their captain. It will be a fantastic achievement if they do it. I felt in good form today and they bowled in my areas which was nice of them."

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