Sussex rocked by injury to Yardy

MCC Match, Lord's, day three (close): MCC 425 & 226-4; Sussex 385-9

Scorecard

Yardy shared 225 with Murray Goodwin on the second day

Acting captain Michael Yardy suffered a broken finger as Sussex trailed the MCC by 266 runs after three days at Lord's.

The left-hander was struck by a ball from England paceman Steve Harmison and a hospital examination confirmed a fracture of his left index finger.

Sussex slipped from 344 to 385-9, with Yardy unable to continue, Graham Onions producing a spell of 3-4 in 13 balls.

New left-armer Chris Liddle impressed with two early wickets but Owais Shah hit a patient unbeaten 87 in 226-4.

Yardy, who averaged 50 with the bat in last season's triumphant Championship campaign, could be sidelined for six weeks by the injury.

Nightwatchman James Kirtley was also treated after being hit on the elbow by a lifting delivery from Harmison, who returned an impressive 2-29 in his 10-over spell from the Pavilion End.

Harmison's figures would have been even more impressive had Sussex wicket-keeper Matt Prior not struck three boundaries in one over.

A delightful straight drive off Onions brought Prior his eighth four and took him to 37 but next ball he glanced a leg-side delivery to the keeper.

After Prior's dismissal three wickets fell for seven runs, and in the absence of Yardy, Sussex conceded a first innings lead of 40.

Liddle, a 22-year-old whose close-season signing from Leicestershire received little acclaim, bowled with some venom.

Alex Loudon was caught at mid-off after mis-timing a pull against seamer Robin Martin-Jenkins, before Shah and Zoheb Sharif compiled a steady partnership of 84.

Sharif, released by Essex in 2004, looked in control against the off-spin of Ollie Rayner but was trapped lbw for 44.

But Sussex could not dislodge Shah, who progressed watchfully to fifty from 116 balls.