Given that the Oval surface looked ideal for batting, and since the outfield was not affected one jot by heavy overnight rain, the hosts were probably the happier of the two sides after an abridged opening day to the 2005 season. But even if the rain that is forecast does materialise today and tomorrow, Surrey would currently have their noses well and truly in front if only they had accounted for one of Michael Yardy or Matthew Prior before bad light and showers brought an early end to proceedings.

As it was, Sussex’s fifth wicket pair kept their team in the game by adding an unbeaten 52 in the final thirteen of the 49 overs made possible by the elements. Prior’s contribution was an eventful 34 off 40 balls. At the other end the patient Yardy continued to be a thorn in the Ovalites’ side, which is a role he has enjoyed in the past.

Throughout his five years at Hove, the 24-year-old has been the archetypal fringe player. However, it has not stopped him making 312 championship runs at an average of 52.00 against Surrey prior to this contest. At the close Yardy was unbowed on 44, which it had taken him 120 deliveries to fashion. He found the boundary rope six times, but only when the left-hander off and then square drove Rikki Clarke in the third over after tea did he really catch the eye.

Earlier, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat. The inclusion of Jason Lewry at the expense of Mark Davis was the only notable change to their anticipated attack. Surrey, however, were without the services of Martin Bicknell, who hopes to be available for this weekend’s totesport League encounter with Yorkshire after tweaking a hamstring in practise on Tuesday. So, in came leg-spinner Ian Salisbury, who has wintered well in Australia, where he has played himself back into form by turning out for the University of New South Wales.

Ian Ward got the visitors off to a positive start and looked in fine fettle until he lifted a catch to mid-wicket in the ninth over. Richard Montgomerie despatched Clarke’s second ball to the long leg boundary to bring up the fifty, but then nibbled at one that sat up a touch. Yardy, who has taken over from Tony Cottey at No.3 in the Martlets’ order, and Murray Goodwin then consolidated for seventeen overs before Goodwin’s backward defensive prod handed Mohammad Akram his first wicket as a Surrey player.

What pleased the home side most of all, however, was seeing the back of Chris Adams for five. The Sussex skipper cut Jimmy Ormond lavishly through backward point for four, but then played on to the undoubted pick of the hosts’ attack while in the process of withdrawing his bat. That left the visitors 119 for four.

After tea the sunshine of the afternoon gave way to thick cloud cover. The Sussex batsmen, no doubt taking the match situation into account, took the light at 5.23pm never to return.

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