Tea Report: Sussex 332 v Hampshire 319-7 (112 overs) Rain stopped play

Tea on the third day (Sussex won toss)

Just 11 overs play were possible in the first two sessions of the day, and that was before lunch when Hampshire crept just 15 runs closer to the Sussex first innings total. The rain did ease off but it remained overcast and bitterly cold.

The umpires were due to make an inspection during the tea interval and if play was deemed possible then the extra half hour would be employed to give the handful of hardy souls who had waited out the inclement weather would get something for their patience.

That was time enough in the 50 minutes possible before lunch for Hampshire to lose another wicket, that of Michael Lumb, who seems fated not to reach three figures for Hampshire, even though he has twice managed the feat as a Yorkshire player on this ground. Last season he passed fifty on eight occasions but his highest score stands at 89. Today he was out having reached 82, falling lbw to Robin Martin-Jenkins, to end an 80-run, seventh wicket partnership between Lumb and Greg Lamb, Hampshire's second highest stand of the innings.