Based on the sunny south coast one assumes Sussex are used to scorching weather. They are probably less accustomed to the lack of breeze, which in London yesterday left the sultry conditions to hang over the AMP Oval like the hot towel one receives after a late night curry. Nor can the visitors be used to having their noses ground into the dirt by a team that only plays one way and that is to win.

First Sussex had to put up with what remained of the Surrey tail adding 79 to their overnight score thanks to Ian Salisbury and Saqlain Mushtaq. The pair combined for 75 in seventeen overs. Saqlain irritatingly mixed defence with attack, lifting Kirtley for a straight six in the fourteenth over of the day, while Salisbury feasted off the bowling of Mushtaq Ahmed, whom he struck for two maximums an over later. The first sailed over long-on and the second, two balls later, disappeared out of the ground and on to Harleyford Road.

However, before they could better the county record for the ninth wicket against the seasiders, set by Constable and Surridge at Hastings in 1950, the Pakistani lofted a straight drive to Montgomerie, who claimed the catch after running around from mid-on. Ian Salisbury angled a couple of fours down to third man, but was then caught at slip attempting the shot for a third time.

In reply to Surrey’s 480 the visitors were soon in trouble, losing their first three wickets for just 24 runs. Richard Montgomerie and Chris Adams both fell to top edged pull strokes; sandwiched in-between was the downfall of Michael Yardy, who had the misfortune to get one from Jimmy Ormond that left him off the pitch.

Making further inroads became much harder, but curiously, having limped off for a spot of running repairs after bowling just three overs, Martin Bicknell was not re-introduced and by tea had concluded that he might just as well rest his taught hamstring. In the meantime Sussex negotiated thirty-four overs for the loss of only one wicket.

Murray Goodwin, who made the most of the wide open spaces created by often playing to three slips, a gully and a forward short leg, was out when he aimed to drive Saqlain Mushtaq’s sixth delivery through mid-on and was bowled between bat and pad. The former Zimbabwean had made an admirable 60 off 66 balls, with all but four of his runs coming in boundaries.

Tim Ambrose was then joined by Robin Martin-Jenkins, who played attractively either side of the wicket and, for once, shrugged off his reputation for being irresponsible with the willow. After adding 91 in twenty overs Martin-Jenkins was lbw for 61 to one that Azhar Mahmood nipped back sharply.

Ambrose continued to show all his fighting qualities, however, going to fifty with only his sixth boundary – a drive through mid-on off the bowling of Azhar – in 111 balls. Six overs later Saqlain’s third ball back sneaked through to dislodge Matt Prior’s off bail. At tea, Sussex were 218 for six.

Soon after the resumption Kevin Innes was bowled around his legs attempting to sweep Salisbury. The next man in was Mushtaq. If he had been instructed to bat a long time he did not show it. The 32-year-old leg spinner cut and swept his first two balls for fours.

Forty minutes later the recall of Ormond paid off with two wickets in two overs. The 25-year-old had Tim Ambrose cutting the ball straight to backward point – but the shot did not detract from an otherwise impressive performance – and then had Mushtaq Ahmed leg before to one that held up. It gave Jimmy Ormond his 30th first-class wicket of the season.

James Kirtley claimed the third batting point for Sussex by edging consecutive fours over the slips off the former Leicestershire man, which left Ormond less than pleased. But in his next over Kirtley was run out at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from Adam Hollioake, who had posted himself at mid-off.

Hollioake declined to extend an invitation to the visitors to follow their innings and by the close Ward and Batty had extended Surrey’s advantage to 195 runs.

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