da fezbet： Batsmen continued to hold sway on the second day ofthe CricInfo Championship match at Hove as Nottinghamshireclosed on 214-4 in reply to Sussex’s 404
Bruce Talbot10-May-2001Batsmen continued to hold sway on the second day ofthe CricInfo Championship match at Hove as Nottinghamshireclosed on 214-4 in reply to Sussex’s 404.But the day was not without incident with Mark Davis,Sussex’s new off-spinner, the first player to fallfoul of the new penalty punishments imposed thisseason.Davis was twice warned for running on to the pitch andhad the single he made when he committed his secondindiscretion removed from his score. A third offencewould have cost his side five penalty runs, but hewas last out for 41 when the Sussex innings ended 40minutes after lunch.Earlier Robin Martin-Jenkins had made a patient 55,but Sussex rather lost their way after losing BasZuiderent in the second over without addition to hisovernight 122. Left-armer Greg Smith took 5-64 asSussex failed to secure maximum batting bonus points.An easy-paced pitch is proving a boon for batsmen andall the Nottinghamshire top order got starts. But noone went on, with Martin-Jenkins removing DarrenBicknell in his first over for 14 and Usman Afzaalfor 29, both courtesy of excellent slip catches.James Kirtley claimed the prized scalp of GregBlewett for 49 and Jason Lewry removed Guy Welton offhis own bowling, but an unbroken fifth-wicket standof 66 between Paul Johnson (35 not out) and KevinPieterson, who is undefeated on 36, seems to haveremoved any worries Notts may have had of having tofollow on after their fourth wicket fell with thetotal on 142.The start of play had been delayed for 15 minuteswhile groundstaff used a blow torch to dry out a damppatch.