5.26pm – BAD LIGHT: We’re off with Sussex on 275-5 from 79 overs. Carter 60 and Hudson-Prentice 32.
5.01pm – The floodlights are now on and the ground staff are getting themselves into a position where they can get the covers on quickly if needed. It is darker now, with some menacing looking clouds circling the ground. Carter has just reached his fifty off 105 balls. 259-5.
4.52pm – It’s been chilly all day at Hove, but with the sunshine having been replaced by a grey sky it’s particularly biting now. Sussex have moved onto 241-5 in the 72nd over, with Carter on 45 and Hudson-Prentice 13. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see bad light come into the equation later.
4.27pm – WICKET! What a start to the evening. George Hill gets Tom Alsop caught on the pull at deep mid-wicket by Bess for 95. It’s 218-5 two balls into the session. Excellent.
4.04pm – Tea Yorkshire were met with stiff Sussex resistance following the capture of two early afternoon wickets on day one at Hove, with the hosts reaching tea at 218-4 from 64 overs.
The opening day of this LV= Insurance County Championship fixture has been a hard-fought affair, with both sides enjoying periods of success after Sussex elected bat. Tom Alsop is unbeaten on 95 heading into the evening session.
Yorkshire have claimed two wickets in both sessions, those this afternoon coming in as many overs as Sussex fell to 124-4 in the 38th.
The first of those was Indian stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara, the Sussex captain, who was trapped lbw by Jordan Thompson as he pushed forwards for only 18.
Ben Coad then uprooted the off-stump of Tom Clark for one.
However, left-handed Alsop and wicketkeeper Oli Carter have since shared an unbroken 94 for the fifth wicket, with the former closing in on what would be a ninth first-class century. Carter will begin the evening on 35.
Yorkshire deserved more reward this morning, for certain, with Sussex enjoying some fortune. However, the Martlets have looked more secure this afternoon on a pitch which looks two-paced.
3.50pm – Approaching tea, and Sussex are 200-4 in the 61st over. Alsop 84 and Carter 28. These who have shared a sturdy 76 to secure their side’s first batting point.
3.27pm – Sussex have moved to 182-4 in the 55th over. Alsop has 74 and Carter 20. Bess and Edwards are the men in operation for Yorkshire, who would have hoped for more rewards after the early afternoon success.
3.14pm – Edwards has returned to the attack to try and break a passage of Sussex resistance. They have moved the score to 161-4 in the 52nd over. Alsop has 63 and Carter 10.
2.50pm – Alsop succeeds where Haines earlier couldn’t. He reaches a fifty off 96 balls with 9x4s. He’s leading the Sussex recovery from the loss of those two quick early-afternoon wickets. He has 51 out of 142-4. Carter has three.
2.19pm – WICKET! Coad strikes, and it’s comprehensive. He beats Clark for pace and uproots his off-stump, 1. 124-4.
2.12pm – WICKET! Pujara is trapped lbw by Thompson for 18. It was the second lbw appeal against the Indian in as many balls, with Neil Pratt agreeing with the latter. It’s 123-3 in the 37th.
1.54pm – Fisher and Coad have taken up the attack for Yorkshire immediately after lunch. Sussex 118-2 in the 33rd. Alsop 31 and Pujara 18.
1.05pm – Lunch: Sussex have reached lunch on 103-2 from 29 overs after electing to bat on day one against Yorkshire at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove this morning.
Jordan Thompson and Dom Bess struck once apiece for a Yorkshire side including debutants Mickey Edwards and Saud Shakeel. Sussex are fielding England Test seamer Ollie Robinson for the first time this summer.
Thompson had left-handed opener Ali Orr caught at third slip for 20 by Fin Bean after a top-edged pull ballooned up off the batter’s body. That left the score at 48-1 in the 13th over.
Then, in the 21st, off-spinner Bess trapped the other opener Tom Haines lbw for 48, the left-hander showing his displeasure at umpire Neil Pratt’s decision as he signalled with his bat and left the crease with his hands on his head.
Orr played one lovely drive back over Ben Coad’s head for four in the early stages of the day before Haines lofted Bess for a straight six in the same region – both down to the Sea End of this ground.
But Yorkshire could have had more rewards for their efforts. Three times in as many overs, Tom Alsop and Haines inside-edged the luckless Edwards down to fine-leg for four, each whistling past or just over the stumps.
There looks to be good pace and carry in the pitch, and Alsop will begin the afternoon on 26, under a sunny sky, and Cheteshwar Pujara on eight.
12.29pm – WICKET! Haines has been trapped lbw by Bess for 48, with Sussex now 83-2 in the 21st over. The left-hander didn’t seem happy at all – signalling with his bat at the umpire and departing the scene with his hands on his head. A slice of fortune for Yorkshire, maybe, but the visitors could easily have had more wickets this morning.
12.21pm – Lovely shot from Haines, who lofts Bess back over his head for six to move to 47. 82-1.
12.16pm – Edwards has now been inside-edged to fine-leg for four three times in his opening three overs, twice Alsop and once Haines. Sussex are 72-1 in the 18th.
12.10pm – Dom Bess is into the attack from the Sea End of the ground, replacing Jordan Thompson. The last time he was here, in 2021, he claimed a match-winning six-for. That would be lovely again, wouldn’t it. Sussex 67-1 after 16, including back-to-back inside edges for four to fine-leg in last over for Alsop against Edwards.
11.58am – Mickey Edwards into the attack to replace Fisher. 49-1 in the 14th.
11.53am – WICKET! Ali Orr has been caught at third slip by Fin Bean off Jordan Thompson, 20. A top-edged pull seemed to balloon off the batter’s body into the slip cordon. Sussex are 48-1 in the 13th. Tom Alsop has joined Haines (28) at the crease.
11.38am – Ali Orr, who has 16, played one lovely drive over the top against Coad earlier and Haines has twice driven through the covers for four in his 27, but they have ridden their luck at times. Thompson has just had a huge lbw appeal turned down. Sussex 44-0 in the 10th.
11.25am – Jordan Thompson has come into the attack to replace Ben Coad from the Sea End. Sussex are 33-0 after six overs.
11.11am – The debutants, Mickey Edwards and Saud Shakeel.
11.09am – Matthew Fisher sharing the new ball. A few plays and misses so far. Sussex 7-0 in the third now.
11am – We’re underway at Hove, where Ben Coad is bowling from the Sea End.
10.44am – Team news……
SUSSEX: Orr, Haines, Pujara c, Alsop, Clark, Carter w, Hudson-Prentice, McAndrew, Carson, Robinson, Crocombe.
YORKSHIRE: Lyth c, Bean, Shakeel, Malan, Hope w, Hill, Bess, Thompson, Fisher, Edwards, Coad.
10.32am – Sussex have won the toss and will bat first.
10.29am – Adam Lyth and Cheteshwar Pujara on their way out to the middle for the toss here at Hove.
10.06am – Mickey Edwards and Saud Shakeel have both just been handed caps in the pre-match huddle, indicating debuts here at Hove.
10.04am – Some big news out of the Northern Diamonds this morning. They have signed South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon ahead of the start of the regional summer. She is available for Saturday’s opener until the start of the Hundred in August.
9.33am – Before we get going, let’s have a look around the grounds at the other fixtures taking place this week.
DIV TWO
Glamorgan v Durham, Sophia Gardens
Worcestershire v Gloucestershire, New Road
DIV ONE
Kent v Essex, The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence, Canterbury
Middlesex v Nottinghamshire, Lord’s
Northamptonshire v Hampshire, Wantage Road
Somerset v Lancashire, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
9.30am – Good morning from the 1st Central County Ground at Hove, where Yorkshire are in Division Two action against Sussex.
First things first, after the frustration of last week in Bristol, it’s dry and sunny – there’s not a cloud in the sky. We are all set for a full day’s cricket.
Yorkshire face a Sussex side who have only played one game so far this season, beating Durham here by two wickets in the opening week before having a free week last week.
They will be captained by former Yorkshire overseas player Cheteshwar Pujara, and they will include Australian overseas seamer Nathan McAndrew and England Test seamer Ollie Robinson, who like Pujara faces his former county.
The players are just about to start their warm-ups.
For Yorkshire, Pakistan Test left-hander Saud Shakeel is set for his debut, while Matthew Fisher is returning from injury – the broken hand he suffered on England Lions duty in February. Both were due to play at Bristol last week but left twiddling their thumbs due to the rain. Ok, ok, maybe twiddling your thumbs isn’t the best plan following a broken hand, but you get the drift!
We spoke to Ottis Gibson to preview this match, in which he labelled Dawid Malan as the best batter in county cricket outside of those currently in the England Test team. To read his thoughts, click the link below.
There will be a live stream available today and the scorecard is available via the Match Centre tab at the top of the page. Enjoy the day.
