Warwickshire v Sussex: Visitors hit back to mar Chambers' day
Last updated on .From the section Counties
| LV CC Division One, Edgbaston |
| Close (day one): Sussex 278-7 v Warwickshire |
| Warwickshire 2 pts, Sussex 2 pts |
| Match scorecard |
Warwickshire loan signing Maurice Chambers made an instant impression with three wickets on his debut against Sussex at Edgbaston.
But the visitors ended the first day still very much in the contest after an admirable evening fightback.
Sussex looked in control when they lunched on 121-0 but, after the loss of Chris Nash (59) and Luke Wells (65), they then collapsed to 195-7.
Chris Jordan (58 not out) then helped Sussex rally to 278-7 at the close.
Jordan, in his first innings since his selection for England's one-day squad, has so far put on 83 for the eighth wicket with Will Beer (23 not out).
Chambers, who last took a wicket in the Championship for Essex in April, is out of favour at Chelmsford, having played his last game earlier this month for Nottinghamshire in a Second XI fixture.
He was only brought in on loan following injuries to England's Chris Woakes, a surprise absentee after being named in a 13-man squad, Rikki Clarke, and last week's loan signing Richard Jones.
Added to Boyd Rankin (who is away with Jonathan Trott in England's one-day squad), as well as injured duo Chris Wright and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, that leaves Warwickshire without six pacemen, not to mention resting England hero Ian Bell and injured Bears skipper Jim Troughton.
But, following in the same footsteps taken by Wright, who made the same late season move from Essex two years ago, the 25-year-old Jamaican acquitted himself well, taking 3-51 in 21 overs.
Although Sussex began this round of matches trailing the leaders by 33 points, they are eyeing up a way into the title race with games to come against the top two teams - Durham, home and away, and Yorkshire at Hove.
VIEW FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire's Clive Eakin:
"Sussex's eighth wicket partnership in the final session made it a pretty even day in the end, but Warwickshire will be pleased at the way their depleted attack fought back after a wicketless morning session.
"Their hastily acquired loan signing Maurice Chambers had a good first day. If Essex are right in complaining about the Jamaica-born bowler's apparent lack of consistency then this must have been one of his good days. He looked lively and sharp in taking three wickets.
"How good Sussex's eventual first innings score will prove will depend on what Chris Jordan and Steve Magoffin can do on a pitch which looks a decent batting track."
