ROBIN MARTIN-JENKINS has rarely had to deal with the disappointment of being dropped in the decade he has spent balancing the Sussex side with his upright batting and fast-medium bowling. In recent weeks, however, he has been out of the championship team and, in his 30th year, has had to confront the emergence of Luke Wright, the 20-year-old all-rounder, as a challenger for his place. A side injury to Jason Lewry has, though, enabled Martin-Jenkins to return after an absence of two matches. How he would have enjoyed, then, his responsible innings of 88 yesterday, even if the satisfaction of it was tempered by dismay at missing out on the fourth hundred of his career with an under-edged pull.

At 180 for six, Sussex were throwing away an overnight position of some strength. Tim Murtagh removed James Kirtley, the nightwatchman, and Azhar Mahmood had bowled Surrey back into the game with an eight-over spell of three for 24. Murray Goodwin mishooked to long leg, Chris Adams touched an outswinger and Matt Prior, attempting to drive, was caught beautifully by the diving Jon Batty.

With Mike Yardy standing firm, however, Martin-Jenkins arrived to play a central role in a revival that ultimately earned Sussex a potentially matchwinning, 130-run lead. Yardy’s 65, ended by a glove to slip, was a three-hour model of selective strokeplay and his 80-run alliance with Martin-Jenkins was worth much in the context of Sussex’s championship season.

Martin-Jenkins, later supported by Wright, played with a fluency through mid-wicket and extra cover that belied a return of only 280 runs from 11 previous championship innings this summer. His hooked six off Azhar, plus nine fours, underlined his determination to be first choice again.

SCOREBOARD FROM HOVE

SURREY: First Innings 248 (M R Ramprakash 97, Azhar Mahmood 57 not out)
Second Innings
S A Newman not out 46
R S Clinton not out 7
Extras (w 1) 1
Total (no wkt, 22 overs) 54
BOWLING: Kirtley 8-4-11-0; Naved-ul-Hasan 6-2-20-0; Mushtaq Ahmed 8-1-23-0.

SUSSEX: First Innings
R R Montgomerie c Batty b Azhar 68
C D Hopkinson lbw b Doshi 24
M H Yardy c Brown b Dernbach 65
R J Kirtley c Brown b Murtagh 0
M W Goodwin c Dernbach b Azhar 25
*C J Adams c Batty b Azhar 2
M J Prior c Batty b Azhar 18
R S C Martin-Jenkins b Akram 88
L J Wright c Clinton b Azhar 26
Naved-ul-Hasan not out 26
Mushtaq Ahmed c Azhar b Murtagh 14
Extras (b 2, lb 6, nb 14) 22
Total (114.5 overs) 378
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-67, 2-104, 3-108, 4-156, 5-160, 6-180, 7-260, 8-320, 9-345.
BOWLING: Akram 28-5-104-1; Azhar Mahmood 27-6-72-5; Murtagh 22.5-5-71-2; Doshi 18-5-45-1; Dernbach 18-3-69-1; Clinton 1-0-9-0.
Bonus points: Sussex 7 Surrey 4
Umpires: J H Evans and D R Shepherd.