SUSSEX IN CHARGE AFTER OPENING DAY AGAINST AUSTRALIA

The county's prolific opening pair Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin both scored hundreds and then Billy Taylor made early inroads into Australia's batting by removing Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.

Sussex's openers put on 202 after the county had been put in by Adam Gilchrist; their third partnership of over 200 this season.

Goodwin was stumped off Simon Katich after making 105 including 17 boundaries, most of them thumped with power and timing through the off side.

It was the Zimbabwean's sixth century of the season, but Montgomerie went one better and passed 2,000 runs in all cricket when he reached his seventh century.

He eventually fell for 157, caught at slip off Damian Fleming with the second new ball. It was overdue reward for Fleming who saw Montgomerie dropped by reserve 'keeper Wade Seccombe in the second over when he'd made just one.

Acting captain Adam Gilchrist's bowling options were reduced when Ashley Noffke had to be carried off with a sore ankle after he'd trodden on the ball in his ninth over. The luckless Noffke had earlier spilled Montgomerie on 32 when he top-edged a hook off Brett Lee down to fine leg.

Sussex skipper Chris Adams chipped in with an unbeaten 66 and his enterprising declaration soon paid dividends.

Taylor ensured Langer's miserable tour continued when he trapped him lbw on the back leg and in his next over Ponting flicked the ball off his legs straight to Montgomerie at square leg.

HARD WORK FOR AUSTRALIA AS SUSSEX PROSPER AT HOVE

Goodwin made 105, his sixth century of the season, while Montgomerie made it seven hundreds and 2,000 runs in all cricket this summer as he reached 133 not out at tea with his side 280-1.

Aussie skipper Adam Gilchrist was possibly seduced by a green-tinged pitch and put Sussex in, but the wicket turned out to be a typically easy-paced batsman-friendly Hove track.

Gilchrist's bowling options were reduced when Ashley Noffke had to go off for ice treatment to his right ankle when he trod on the ball following through during his ninth over.

And their only success came from part-time bowler Simon Katich who had Goodwin stumped by Wade Seccombe when he came down the pitch trying to turn the ball through mid-wicket.

Goodwin's 105 contained 17 boundaries and the first wicket stand of 202 was their second of over 200 this season.

Montgomerie reached his century five overs later and was still going strong at tea, having added an unbeaten 78 in 14 overs with skipper Chris Adams.

He had two let-offs along the way. Seccombe dropped him off Damian Fleming when he had failed to score in the second over and Noffke spilled a chance running in from fine leg off Lee when he'd made 32.

SUSSEX'S PROLIFIC OPENERS PUNISH AUSTRALIA AT HOVE

Both Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie were closing in on hundreds at lunch as Sussex reached 147-0 from 33 overs on the first day.

And to make matters worse for stand-in Australian captain Adam Gilchrist, he was left a bowler short when Ashley Noffke was helped off the field after treading on the ball in his follow through during his ninth over.

Gilchrist won the toss and must have felt there was something in a green-tinged pitch to interest his bowlers.

But it turned out to be the usual Hove featherbed and Montgomerie had a reprieve on 32 when he was dropped by the luckless Noffke at fine leg when he top-edged a pull off Brett Lee.

The Sussex batsmen were quick to fasten onto anything short or wide and both reached their half-centuries in the 22nd over, the first bowled by off-spinner Colin Miller.

Goodwin's 50 came off 66 balls with eight fours, Montgomerie's took seven more deliveries and included four boundaries.

Miller succeeded in checking Sussex's progress, but Lee's nine overs in the morning session disappeared for 58 and at lunch Goodwin was unbeaten on 71 and Montgomerie 63 not out.

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Date-stamped : 08 Aug2001 - 22:25