Sussex pull 332 clear as Unadkat and Haines dominate Hampshire
Sussex stretched their lead to 332 runs over Hampshire at the close of day two at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
The visitors finished on 216-5 in their second innings in this Rothesay County Championship Division One match. Captain Tom Haines was 99 not out, one run short of a century, after Sussex had already built a big first-innings advantage. BBC Sport
Sussex made 244 in their first innings. Jack Leaning top-scored with 78 after his side had slipped to 124-7. Hampshire replied with 128 all out.
Left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat took 5-32 for Sussex. A five-for, five wickets in one innings, is a landmark for any bowler. This was the 25th of his long first-class career and his second for Sussex in the Championship.
Hampshire had resumed on 55-4 overnight. They never recovered.
James Coles struck twice with lbw decisions, which means leg before wicket, to remove Ben Mayes and Andrew Neal. Unadkat then closed out the tail. He had James Fuller caught at wide second slip and bowled Kyle Abbott to finish the job.
That total of 128 left Hampshire 122 runs short of 250. In county cricket, teams earn extra batting bonus points for passing run thresholds in the first 110 overs. Missing that first mark hurt Hampshire again.
Sussex then batted with control. Haines, the Sussex skipper, shared a stand of 62 with Charlie Tear and another of 64 with Oli Carter, according to the scorecard summary. Sussex Cricket
Hampshire fought back with the ball. Andrew Neal took 3-59 and Felix Organ claimed two wickets. But Haines held firm. He will return one short of three figures.
The pressure is now entirely on the hosts. Hampshire have managed only four batting bonus points all season. That is fewer than the previous lowest tally of five, set by Middlesex in 2023.
What makes this stand out is the balance of the Sussex performance. Unadkat supplied the burst. Leaning supplied the first-day rescue. Haines supplied the patience. Hampshire, without a home red-ball win since April going into this game, must now chase history to stay in it. ESPNcricinfo
