A day of clichés in Hove

HUW TURBERVILL AT HOVE: Sussex limped to 67 for 8 before a rousing stand between Jack Carson, who made his maiden first-class fifty, and Henry Crocombe made the day worthwhile for the 800 spectators

Hove (first day of four): Sussex 175, Northamptonshire 91-4

Scorecard

The tail showing the top order how it’s done is a well-worn cricketing cliché, but it was applicable on a gloriously sunny day at Hove that saw Sussex fans finally see their side in action in the flesh again.

It was a cautious start - 800 spectators were allowed into the 6,000-seat ground after a 609-day absence, and what they watched early on would not have impressed them: Sussex won the toss and limped to 67 for 8. Suddenly the thought of trips to B&Q, and returning to the 10,000-piece jigsaw, had renewed appeal.

A rousing stand of 99 between Jack Carson, who made his maiden first-class half-century, and Henry Crocombe gave their side - to use another cliché - something to bowl at (175), though.

The young Sussex side fought tigerishly when it was their turn to bowl, reducing Northamptonshire to 91 for 4. There is a good contest in prospect here. The hosts need to sustain their challenge across the match, however, after letting promising positions slip at home to Yorkshire and Lancashire.

While the surface looks a good one, Northants did bowl well, with the brisk Ben Sanderson (5 for 45) particularly impressive. The odd ball spat. A couple of lbws looked iffy. But to lose seven wickets before lunch was pretty dismal.

Sussex look unlikely to qualify in the top two in their group, and continue to blood youngsters. There are eight players here who are 24 and younger. The senior pros struggled, though. Travis Head and Stiaan van Zyl were caught at slip. Captain Ben Brown was snaffled by the wicketkeeper, Adam Rossington, from an inside edge - a good catch that one.

Aaron Thomason was unlucky to be adjudged lbw, the ball didn’t look as if it was doing enough, although he got into a frightful tangle, not playing a shot. Delray Rawlins’ lbw could have been sliding down.

The Northants players were on a promise. "Let’s have a beer on the beach tonight Bergie," was the call to steady seamer Gareth Berg, who has just signed a new contract until 2022.

Wayne Parnell and Tom Taylor were also brisk and got among the wickets.

At least the home fans had something to cheer at last, seeing Carson and Crocombe, both 19, prosper. The latter made an unbeaten 45 - his previous highest first-class was 15. True both relied on a few edges to the boundary, but they also played some handsome shots. Joe Root was a visitor here a month ago, and Carson produced one square drive off the back foot that the England Test captain would have been pleased with.

And Crocombe played a couple of super on-drives and a thump off the unthreatening Simon Kerrigan that thudded into the long-on boundary board with a gratifying thud.

The rise of Jack Carson, the Waringstown boy making waves at Hove

Overseas pro Head rallied the troops with a bit of Adelaide aggression that appeared to pique the umpires’ interest. Ben Curran was bounced out by Crocombe. Luke Procter nicked a beauty from Jamie Atkins.

George Garton then came on and removed danger man Ricardo Vasoncelos. And the icing on the cake for Sussex’s recovery was seeing Rob Keogh suffer a loss of concentration, and clip Carson to Rawlins at midwicket just before the close.

"It’s great to be back, I’ve missed it," said Chris Corin, from Worthing. "I have watched some live streaming, but it’s no substitute for the real thing. I loved Carson and Crocombe’s rousing stand. It sure beats gardening."

Hear, hear.

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