More misery for Yorkshire and worries for Vaughan

There was more misery for Yorkshire at Arundel yesterday as Murray Goodwin plundered a masterly 235 to put Sussex in complete command of the Championship match, writes David Warner.

There was also fresh concern over Michael Vaughan, who was off the field from lunchtime onwards with an icepack on his sore knee, In addition, Vaughan was nursing a slightly tweaked right hamstring and although director of cricket, David Byas, said the aim was to get him back into the game as soon as possible, the England captain must be becoming increasingly frustrated at the time it is taking him to achieve full fitness.

With mutterings growing louder among the travelling fans and with chief executive, Stewart Regan, making threatening noises about the need for an immediate improvement, Yorkshire are going through stressful and difficult time - and they are now almost certain to complete the first half of their season without a Championship victory.

Sussex closed the day on 479 for seven with their first innings lead stretched to 241. Yorkshire could not be accused of not trying yesterday but their attack posed little threat to Sussex, despite Australian paceman, Jason Gillespie, claiming three wickets in an innings for the first time for Tykes.

There was a success early in the 12th over of the second day for Gillespie who trimmed the off-bail of opener, Carl Hopkinson, to leave Sussex on 87 for three but Goodwin and captain Chris Adams then took command in a stand of 294 in, the highest of the season against Yorkshire.

Goodwin's drives wide of mid-on were a feature of his virtually unblemished innings and the nearest he came to giving a chance until late in the day was on 118 when he hooked Anthony McGrath to long leg where the ball brushed Gillespie's hands before sailing over the boundary rope for six.

Adams, more watchful and less flamboyant these days, was happy to give quiet support to the Zimbabwe-born right-hander until he suddenly hit McGrath for four boundaries in one over as he moved into the 70s.

It was soon after lunch that Goodwin completed his three-hour century off 165 balls with 16 fours and Adams' first 'ton' in a year was scored off 167 deliveries with 15 boundaries. The stand was only broken in the last over before tea when Gillespie, operating with the new ball, had Adams taken at second slip by McGrath for 107.

After the interval, Matt Prior was also caught in the slips by McGrath off Deon Kruis but there was no stopping Goodwin who cantered to his second double century of the season from 293 balls with 29 fours and a six.

Matthew Hoggard bowled unsuccessfully and largely without menace but McGrath was deservedly rewarded for his efforts by bowling Robin Martin-Jenkins to make Sussex 401 for six.

Goodwin's marathon, the highest Division One score in the Championship this season, ended when he edged a ball from Kruis to Gerard Brophy after lasting for 406 minutes, facing 332 balls and striking 33 fours and a six.

Scorecard

Sussex v Yorkshire at Arundel

Overnight: Yorkshire 238 (C White 104, R K J
Dawson 56; J D Lewry 4-54). Sussex 52-2.

Sussex First Innings Close
C D Hopkinson b Gillespie 25
M W Goodwin c Brophy b Kruis 235
C J Adams c McGrath b Gillespie 107
M J Prior c McGrath b Kruis 4
R S Martin-Jenkins b McGrath 32
Yasir Arafat not out 40
R J Kirtley not out 6
Extras (b1 lb4 w1 nb3 pens 0) 9
Total 7 wkts (127 overs) 479
Fall: 1-13 2-33 3-87 4-341 5-352 6-401 7-455
To Bat: Mushtaq Ahmed, J D Lewry.
Bonus Pts: Sussex 3 Yorkshire 1
Bowling: Hoggard 22-5-75-0. Gillespie 24-7-70-
3. Kruis 29-4-88-3. McGrath 21-1-107-1. Dawson
14-2-61-0. Lehmann 16-0-67-0. Lumb 1-0-6-0.