Prior makes fast start for Sussex

Frizzell County Championship D1, Brit Oval
Sussex 171-4 v Surrey (stumps, day one)

Match scorecard

Surrey's Rikki Clarke celebrates removing Richard Montgomerie

Michael Yardy and Matt Prior pulled Sussex out of a potential crisis with a gutsy partnership against Surrey.

After day one of this Division One County Championship tie, Sussex were 171-4 with only 49 overs available.

Jimmy Ormond took 2-29 for the home side who were in good shape when reducing the 2003 Champions to 119-4.

But Yardy (44 not out) and Prior (34 not out) had other ideas - the latter, an England A international, needing just 40 balls for his runs.

Although Sussex had chosen to bat first following heavy overnight rain, it quickly became clear there would be plenty of assistance for the seamers.

Surrey struck first when Ian Ward (22) mistimed a pull straight to square-leg off Ormond.

Then Richard Montgomerie was undone on the same score, edging Rikki Clarke to the wicket-keeper.

Murray Goodwin (31) hit five boundaries before Mohammad Akram had him caught behind.

And when Chris Adams had his stumps re-arranged by Ormond, Surrey were clearly on top.

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