Image caption, Warwickshire's Michael Booth picked up two early wickets in what little action was possible at Edgbaston Published 1 hour ago Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Edgbaston, Birmingham (day one) Sussex: 99-3; Haines 49; Booth 2-5 Warwickshire: Yet to bat Sussex (0 pts) lead Warwickshire (0 pts) by 99 runs with seven wickets remaining.
Match scorecard Title-chasers Warwickshire and Sussex fought out a fascinating sliver of play on a heavily weather-affected opening day of their County Championship match 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.
With the weather set fair for the next three days, a compelling contest is in prospect with both sides knowing that victory would propel them among the front-runners in the title race.
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 Ed Barnard took a stinging catch at gully.
It was the former England all-rounder's 379th first-class wicket for the Bears.
Woakes bowled skilfully and was unlucky not to add further early wickets in the morning session.
Haines, in particular, enjoyed some good fortune but Sussex survived without further loss to reach lunch at 50-1.
Batting conditions eased for a while in the afternoon 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 his second ball, Haines was caught at second slip by Rob Yates.
His 13th delivery won an lbw decision against a well-forward Clark.
Rain then returned to end the day's play.
Report by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay.
