By Edward Bevan at Hove
First day of four: Sussex 313-8 v Glamorgan
SUSSEX overcame early disasters to post a respectable total on a pitch where there was enough bounce and carry to encourage the seamers and enough pace for the batsmen to prosper.
They were indebted to their middle order with Keith Newell (84) celebrating his return after a three-month absence, while Rajesh Rao (76) initiated Sussex's recovery and Robin Martin-Jenkins surpassed his previous championship best with a purposeful innings of 78.
Newell's solid innings was interspersed with watchful defence and attacking stroke play, while Rao, who struck 13 boundaries, appeared on course for his first championship hundred before being undone by extra bounce.
Martin-Jenkins guided Sussex to their third batting point and after completing a 96-ball fifty, unleashed a series of powerful drives before he was out in the final over.
Sussex had lurched to 23 for three in the 10th over as Owen Parkin and Andrew Davies, who proved to be capable understudies for the absent Waqar Younis and Steve Watkin, were rewarded for putting the ball in the right place.
Sussex needed the experience and expertise of Michael Bevan at No 5 but as the Australian all-rounder has reported for training camp duties it was left to Rao to help Chris Adams halt the collapse.
They responded with a partnership of 67 before Adams, who began with four successive boundaries, was sent back by his partner and left stranded in the middle of the pitch.
Day 2: Maynard unravels seamers
By Edward Bevan at Hove
Second day of four: Glamorgan (353-8 dec) lead Sussex (332) by 21 runs
GLAMORGAN'S positive approach, highlighted by Matthew Maynard and Tony Cottey, who were both out in the nineties, enabled them to gain their fourth batting point in the 82nd over and declare with eight overs remaining.
But with four lights shining, there was little prospect of Sussex starting their second innings, and everyone trooped off after the batsmen were given the option before a ball was bowled.
An hour after hearing of his selection for England A, Darren Thomas celebrated by taking the last two Sussex wickets, then the youthful combination of Wayne Law and Alun Evans - the 18th pair to open for the county this season - provided a solid start.
Law, only 19, is a delight to watch and one can only hope that no one attempts to change his uninhibited approach. He began by driving Jason Lewry for two straight boundaries and struck five more before edging to slip.
Evans departed three balls later but Maynard, after a couple of accurate overs from Robin Martin-Jenkins, punished the young medium-pacer, whose length strayed as he was struck for 30 in three overs. But to Martin-Jenkins' credit, he appeared unaffected by Maynard's belligerence and, after changing ends, he conceded just 15 runs from his next seven overs.
Lewry, who twisted an ankle in the previous game, operated mostly from a short run and although he bowled a few 'unplayables' in his opening spell, he was seldom at full throttle.
A couple of seasons ago, Maynard struck a hundred in each innings on a similar pitch at Cheltenham - hard, bouncy and conducive to positive stroke play - and he treated the Sussex seamers with disdain.
He struck a six and 16 fours and was approaching his first hundred of the summer when he was run out attempting a second run to fine leg.
Maynard and Cottey added 102 and after Maynard's dismissal, his vice-captain assumed control.
Michael Powell, another young batsman who has performed consistently in his first season, added 75 with Cottey, who was nine runs away from his century when he holed out at third man.
Any thoughts of a sizeable lead, however, disappeared as Glamorgan lost three wickets for two runs, and with Adrian Shaw unable to bat because of a broken finger, Maynard declared.
Steve James received a sympathetic call from David Graveney yesterday after the Glamorgan opener was left out of the winter touring squads. James was reassured that he was still part of England's plans.
Day 3: Glamorgan left kicking heels
By Edward Bevan at Hove
Third day of four: Sussex (332 & 163-9) lead Glamorgan (353-8 dec) by 142 runs
GLAMORGAN were on course for their fourth championship win of the season within three days when the weather took a turn for the worse here yesterday.
Rain arrived at 3.40 and play was abandoned two hours later. Glamorgan, however, should pick up the maximum 24 points today unless they are further frustrated.
Sussex's batsmen also appeared to be overcome by low pressure as they failed to cope with the Glamorgan seamers, who took full advantage of the pacey pitch and the heavy atmosphere.
No one exploited the conditions better than Adrian Dale who, in his third spell, took three for one from 16 balls.
Chris Adams was typically aggressive in an innings which included eight fours, but when he fell to one of two stunning catches by Dean Cosker, the substitute fielder, only Robin Martin-Jenkins threatened to disrupt Glamorgan dominance.
The bowlers were well supported in the field, while Matthew Maynard performed admirably behind the stumps as Adrian Shaw's deputy, a broken finger having ended the wicketkeeper's season on Monday.
The Sussex openers again failed as Robert Croft bowled Wasim Khan. Toby Pierce next sliced an intended drive to backward point. The Sussex middle order, who stemmed the early collapse in the first innings, were then quickly swept aside as Raj Rao had his off-stump removed by Andrew Davies, while Keith Newell was brilliantly caught one handed by Cosker at second slip.
Sussex's only hope of avoiding their second successive championship defeat here appears to lie with the weather, especially after their bowlers had failed to halt Glamorgan's gallop in the first innings on a pitch described by the umpires as ``one of the best we've seen all summer.''
Day 4: Martin-Jenkins turns tables on Glamorgan
By Edward Bevan at Hove
Sussex (332 & 166) beat Glamorgan (353-8 dec & 127) by 18 runs
A CAREER-BEST performance from Robin Martin-Jenkins, 22, who took seven for 54, overturned Glamorgan's hopes of gaining their expected fourth win of the season and their first in Sussex for 23 years.
When Sussex, who had been on the back foot for most of the game, lost their last wicket after adding only three runs to their overnight score, Glamorgan, chasing a modest 146, appeared in pole position.
Sussex were also without Jason Lewry, who had an injured shoulder, but Martin-Jenkins, sharing the new ball with James Kirtley, soon had the county champions in disarray with a splendid display of seam bowling.
He bowled within himself, sacrificing pace for accurate line and length, obtaining movement through the air and from the pitch and made a huge contribution with bat and ball towards his team's victory.
After Alun Evans had holed out to cover, the former Durham University student whose all-round performances in this game impressed many - not least the Glamorgan players - induced a collapse in which three wickets fell for one run.
Wayne Law was undone by a full length delivery, then the young seamer captured the prize wicket of Matthew Maynard, who edged his second ball to slip.
There was little respite for the batsmen as Mark Robinson, coming down the slope, trapped Tony Cottey leg before and when Michael Powell drove loosely to cover, Glamorgan had capitulated to 65 for six in the 19th over.
The Sussex seamers were capitalising on the favourable bowling conditions and much depended on Adrian Dale and Darren Thomas if Glamorgan were to reach their target.
When Andrew Davies had his middle stump removed by the irrepressible Martin-Jenkins, Adrian Shaw, batting with a broken finger, came out to join Dale but with 22 more runs needed, Dale gave Chris Adams his third slip catch of the innings.
Owen Parkin duly succumbed to Robinson, who proved the perfect foil for Martin-Jenkins, and at the end of an excellent championship game Sussex had gained their sixth win of the season.