Warwickshire edge rain-hit first day against Sussex

Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Edgbaston, Birmingham (day one)

Sussex: 99-3; Haines 49; Booth 2-5

Warwickshire: Yet to bat

Warwickshire 1 pt, Sussex 0 pts.

Match scorecard

County Championship title-chasers Warwickshire and Sussex fought out a fascinating sliver of play on a heavily weather-affected opening day at Edgbaston.

Sussex, put in, were 99-3 from 30.3 overs when rain returned to wipe out the last session.

They negotiated the new ball for the loss of only one wicket as second-wicket pair Tom Haines (49) and Tom Clark (30) added 69, but Michael Booth then removed both in his first 13 balls to even the contest up.

Having chosen to bowl with moisture in the air, Warwickshire's Chris Woakes struck with his 10th delivery as Daniel Hughes sliced a drive and captain Ed Barnard took a stinging catch at gully - the former England all-rounder's 379th first-class wicket for the Bears.

Bowling skilfully, Woakes was unlucky not to add further early wickets in the morning session as Haines, in particular, enjoyed some good fortune.

Having survived without further loss to reach lunch at 50-1, batting conditions eased after a two-hour break when the sun came out and Haines found his timing to collect nine fours as he and Clark put Sussex in control until Booth's arrival in the attack coincided with the return of cloud cover.

From Booth's second ball, Haines was caught at second slip by Rob Yates, then two overs later he won an lbw decision against Clark.

Rain then returned to end the day's play.

Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.