WHAT was largely an attritional half-day’s cricket was ended by bad light at 5.20pm with neither team able to gain the ascendancy. Batting was never straightforward under permanent cloud cover against some probing bowling and Sussex were grateful that Mike Yardy, their least experienced top-order player, provided backbone to their innings with an unbeaten 44 in 164 minutes.

It was against Surrey in the final match of last season that Yardy scored his maiden first-class hundred shortly before his 24th birthday. His confidence clearly enhanced, Yardy played like the old pro he is not, in trying conditions.

Although Yardy admits that he has “loads” of cricketing superstitions, none of which he will reveal, there is nothing mysterious about his batting. A compact 6ft southpaw, he left the ball well outside off stump, played close to his body and unfurled a couple of accomplished drives through extra cover.

While Yardy was content to restrict himself to half a dozen fours, Matt Prior, the dasher, struck seven from 40 balls faced while rushing to 34 not out. The pair shared an important 52-run stand when Sussex appeared to be wobbling at 119 for four after Chris Adams had played on trying to leave a ball from Jimmy Ormond.

Ormond was the pick of the Surrey attack, continually asking questions of all the batsmen. He had quickly dismissed Ian Ward, who top-edged a pull, before Richard Montgomerie nibbled at Rikki Clarke’s third ball. Later, Mohammad Akram, making his debut against his old club, removed Murray Goodwin with a beauty that bounced and left him.