Murray Goodwin batted all day as Sussex built a commanding position against second division leaders Hampshire at the Rosebowl.

The Zimbabwean finished undefeated on 131, his first Championship century for the county, as Sussex closed on 290-4.

Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie posted Sussex's first hundred stand for the first wicket for exactly a year, putting on 106 before Montgomerie was bowled by off-spinner Shaun Udal for 56.

Left-hander Mike Yardy soon edged Alan Mullally to second slip, but Goodwin and Bas Zuiderent put on 92 in 37 for the third wicket, Goodwin reaching his century after five and a half hours at the crease when he pulled Mullally for his 12th boundary.

Zuiderent was needlessly run out in the next over for 45, but Goodwin and skipper Chris Adams added 52 in 14 overs for the fourth wicket and looked like being there again in the morning when Adams was lbw to Alec Morris for 25 two overs before the close.

Goodwin had hit 15 boundaries and faced 322 balls by the close, but afterwards he admitted it wasn't one of his better innings.

He said: "It was a difficult wicket to time your shots on, so to bat all day was great because it wasn't one of my most fluent innnings.

"They bowled quite well and there is something in the wicket for the bowlers which hopefully our guys can exploit as the match continues."

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