Result: Sussex (552; Salt 130, Haines 124, Burgess 96; Salisbury 3/112, Rushworth 3/116) beat Durham (211 & 277; Poynter 84, Clark 49, Rimmington 49*; Briggs 3/71) by an innings & 64 runs
An early batting collapse paved the way for a disappointing defeat as Durham lost by an innings and 64 runs against Sussex at Arundel.
The visitors lost seven wickets for 65 runs in the morning session and then, having followed on 341 runs behind, 95 for five wickets in the afternoon session.
Despite a battling performance from Stuart Poynter in making 84 & 49s from Nathan Rimmington & Graham Clark, the job proved too much as Sussex ran out winners.
When Durham resumed on 202 for 4 the overnight pair of Will Smith (90) and Gareth Harte (12) were still nurturing hopes of avoiding the follow-on, but the last six wickets fell for just nine runs in 10.5 overs.
Danny Briggs took the key wicket of Smith – lbw sweeping – with the fifth ball of the day. David Wiese then broke the innings with three wickets in seven deliveries. He bowled Poynter and then Josh Coughlin, shouldering arms, first ball, before having Rimmington caught down the leg-side in his next over.
Harte, who had scored one run in half an hour, was caught behind off Briggs and, finally, Wiese bowled Matt Salisbury for eight.
Sussex enforced the follow-on and in the fifth over Cameron Steel was bowled by a fine nip-backer from Jofra Archer when the batsman didn’t offer a stroke.
Durham were unable to turn the tide. At 61, Tom Latham was bowled by Ollie Robinson through the gate & at 77 Smith – again a most important wicket – was brilliantly caught by Harry Finch at wide second slip, low down and right-handed off Wiese.
Four balls later Paul Collingwood was lbw and it was 88/5 when Harte was sharply caught down the leg-side by Ben Brown off Briggs, who then had Graham Clark lbw to make it 137/6
A fighting 84 from Poynter, off 109 balls with 11 fours, ensured Sussex took the new ball. Robinson soon bowled Salisbury and Archer completed the match when he caught and bowled Rushworth, with Rimmington unbeaten on 49.
Close, Day Two: Durham (202/4; Smith 90*, Collingwood 44; Wells 2/26) trail Sussex (552; Salt 130, Haines 124, Burgess 96; Salisbury 3/112, Rushworth 3/116) by 350 runs
Will Smith is the key to Durham’s response on Day Three as Durham finished on 202/4 in reply to a massive Sussex score of 552.
Durham are still 350 adrift of the hosts with six wickets in hand but Smith played an important hand on Day Two, finishing unbeaten on 90.
Sussex broke through in only the third over of the innings when Tom Latham fended a rising ball from Jofra Archer to Harry Finch in the slips. Then, at 43, Cameron Steel cut Danny Briggs to Archer at point for 20.
Graham Clark was third out when, attempting to pull, he had his off-stump knocked back by Luke Wells for 27. But then the experienced pair of Smith, 35, and Paul Collingwood, 42, pulled the innings round with a stand of 82 in 28 overs.
Collingwood, returning to the side after injury, hit eight fours in his 81-ball 44 and played with confidence against the spin of Briggs and Wells. He appeared a little surprised when he was given out lbw to one from Wells that hit him high on his front pad.
But Smith’s vigil continued and he had batted for four hours for his unbeaten 90 from 216 deliveries, with ten fours. Durham are halfway to ensuring Sussex bat again.
Sussex had resumed on a daunting 439 for five in the morning but Durham were given early encouragement when Chris Rushworth took two wickets with successive deliveries in the third over of the day.
First Ben Brown, who had added just two to his overnight 50, skied to the keeper as he attempted to hit the ball over midwicket, then David Wiese was lbw to a pitched-up delivery and Archer was eighth out at 500 when he got a very thick edge to extra-cover for 17.
Michael Burgess was 30 not out overnight and as wickets fell at the other end he took the attack to the Durham bowlers.
When he reached 91 he became the county’s leading scorer in championship matches this season, but he was caught at backward-point four runs short of his century and without addition Ollie Robinson was bowled by Clark.
Close, Day One: Sussex (439/5; Salt 130, Haines 124; Salisbury 3/102) vs Durham
It turned into a long day in the field at Arundel after Sussex racked up 439/5 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match.
Left-hander Tom Haines scored a maiden first-class century at, featuring in a record second wicket stand of 244 in 54 overs with fellow centurion Phil Salt as Sussex took control on Day One.
Salt also scored his maiden century at this level as the pair celebrated beating the previous record second wicket stand against Durham of 196 between Bill Athey and Alan Wells at Hove in 1996.
Durham looked in the mood to make the most of the uncontested toss when they took the field under sullen skies. And they made a quick breakthrough when Luke Wells was caught by Tom Latham at second slip off Matt Salisbury for eight in only the fourth over.
The aggressive Salt is better known for his exploits in the white ball game, but Haines matched his tempo. Haines was second out at 253, caught low down at slip by Paul Collingwood for 124 from 167 balls, with 19 fours. Salt followed in the first over after tea, caught at third man for 130 from 175 deliveries, with 18 fours and a six.
After that Harry Finch, with a rapid 56, Luke Wright, Ben Brown (50 not out) and Michael Burgess all enjoyed themselves in the afternoon sunshine.
Collingwood returned to the side after injury, and Stuart Poynter also came in after his duties with the Ireland team, but Durham still looked decidedly second best on the opening day.