While only just over ten overs were possible on the first day, the second made up for lost time with the loss of 14 wickets, and Hampshire on the receiving end of a dismal batting collapse to boot.

The home side crashed to a close-of-play 88-6, still requiring nine to avoid the follow-on, a target which seemed a long way off when half the side were back in the pavilion with only 46 on the board.

It followed a rearguard from Sussex, led by Robin Martin-Jenkins, whose undefeated 80 and three wickets has put his side in command.

His innings, coupled with Tim Ambrose (49) and Michael Yardy (34), steadied the Sussex ship when the wickets tumbled, almost exclusively to spinner Shaun Udal, who claimed his best figures of the season in a match he was due to miss through ankle surgery.

Sussex were comfortably moving along, although slowly, at 158-4 when he, in harness with Alan Mullally began to make inroads.

Udal claimed Yardy while Mullally picked up Ambrose to release the lower order and the spinner got to work by knocking over four of the last five wickets, finishing with 5-56 from 24.4 overs.

However, Martin-Jenkins stood firm to shepherd the tail to 246 all out, adding small but, what could prove, significant partnerships with the lower order.

And he cut through the Hampshire batting order when he turned his hand to bowling, ripping out three of the six wickets to fall in the after-tea session.

Derek Kenway was trapped in front, John Crawley shouldered arms and was bowled while Neil Johnson cut a wide delivery to point where Kevin Innes comfortably accepted the catch.

Hampshire's wretched run of opening partnerships, which has yielded a best this season of just 43, was not improved this time around either. Will Kendall received the finger from umpire George Sharp when Jason Lewry had him leg before.

Billy Taylor, who plays his club cricket for Winchester squeezed one through Robin Smith's defences, leaving Hampshire on a precarious 46-5 and when Taylor induced an edge from Nic Pothas' bat to keeper Matt Prior, it left the home side 60-6.

However, some sensible batting from Giles White and a more typically attacking 19 not out from Dimitri Mascarenhas saved the situation and edged Hampshire towards respectability at 88-6.

But the weather, which is forecast to be poor for the next couple of days, may have the final say in the proceedings.

© Hampshire Cricket