HAPLESS Kent were left ruing a couple of dropped catches, a brace of debatable decisions and the loss of both their overseas stars Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp as Sussex took complete control on day three of this Liverpool Victoria Championship clash at Hove.

In what is proving to be a baptism of fire for debutants Tyron Henderson and Dwayne Bravo, Sussex took full advantage of some slices of luck to savage Kent’s new-look attack and build on their first innings lead of 63 by reaching 368 for three by stumps.

Shell-shocked and tired during a boiling-hot day in the field, Robert Key’s side conceded 201 in 32 overs of the final session as Murray Goodwin (111) and Matt Prior (107) batted their side into the ascendancy with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand worth 216 so far.

The home second innings got off to the best of starts with an opening stand of 129 between Carl Hopkinson and Richard Montgomerie, that also owed much to Kent’s poor catching.

Hopkinson, dropped on one by James Tredwell at first slip off the bowling of Henderson, went on to notch 57 while Montgomerie, who suffered a first innings golden duck, was also dropped at slip off Amjad Khan after Darren Stevens had replaced Tredwell.

Montgomerie reached 69 before Patel teased him and Hopkinson out then, when Khan snared first innings century-maker Michael Yardy leg before to make it, Kent appeared on the verge of a fight-back.

That belief was snuffed out either side of tea, however, as Prior and Goodwin counter-attacked magnificently on the most benign of pitches.

Bravo and Henderson were made to look like club bowlers as the fourth wicket partners went on the rampage after tea.

Goodwin raced to three-figures from 90 balls, while Prior hit 13 fours and two sixes in reaching the landmark from 125 deliveries.

Bravo’s six, wicketless overs cost 51 runs and Henderson, having seen a second chance of the game go down off his bowling, conceded 30 from eight.

The sole blessing for Kent was that Sussex skipper Chris Adams was unable to join in the jamboree. The former England bat was left with a badly bruised left thumb after dropping a slip chance off Tredwell in the first over of the day and may take no further part in the game.

Earlier, Sussex needed 80 minutes to claim Kent’s last four wickets and polish off their first innings for a disappointing 336.

Again it was the hugely impressive Yasir Arafat who caused most consternation in taking two more wickets to claim impressive figures of five for 84 on only his second championship outing.

Working up considerable pace down the Hove slope, he troubled both Niall O’Brien and Henderson with his pace as Kent succumbed rather meekly.

In mitigation, Patel and Tredwell appeared to get the rough end of decisions, but the reality is Sussex have looked the far superior unit throughout.

SCORECARD

Sussex first innings

R R Montgomerie lbw b Khan 0
C D Hopkinson lbw b Henderson 20
M H Yardy c O’Brien b Khan 134
M W Goodwin st O’Brien b Patel 82
C J Adams lbw b Khan 3
M J Prior c Tredwell b Bravo 15
L J Wright c Key b Patel 0
Yasir Arafat c Stevens b Patel 31
O P Rayner st O’Brien b Tredwell 23
R J Kirtley lbw b Patel 36
J D Lewry not out 17

Extras 38

Total 399 all out after 121.4 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-0, 2-39, 3-180, 4-199, 5-223, 6-224, 7-268, 8-308, 9-377

Bowling: Khan 28-3-75-3, Henderson 20-4-57-1, Bravo 16-1-74-1, Stevens 3-0-14-0, Tredwell 17-1-56-1, Patel 37.4-7-101-4.

Kent first innings

D P Fulton lbw b Lewry 0
R W T Key run out (Montgomerie) 16
M van Jaarsveld b Kirtley 10
M J Walker c Prior b Arafat 87
D I Stevens lbw b Arafat 118
D J Bravo c Kirtley b Arafat 23
J C Tredwell lbw b Arafat 6
N J O’Brien c Wright b Arafat 16
T Henderson c Prior b Lewry 4
M M Patel c Prior b Kirtley 9
A Khan not out 10

Extras 37

Total 336 all out after 102.3 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-0, 2-17, 3-34, 4-222, 5-266, 6-280, 7-292, 8-312, 9-312

Bowling: Lewry 27-8-54-2, Kirtley 18.4-3-72-2, Arafat 29-3-84-5, Wright 12-6-33-0, Rayner 10-1-47-0, Yardy 5-0-16-0, Adams 1-0-2-0.

Sussex second innings

R R Montgomerie st O’Brien b Patel 69
C D Hopkinson c&b Patel 57
M H Yardy lbw b Khan 4
M W Goodwin not out 111
M J Prior not out 107

Extras 20

Total 368 for three after 83 overs

Fall of wicket: 1-129, 2-138, 3-152,

Bowling: Khan 15-2-50-1, Henderson 8-2-30-0, Patel 33-4-113-2, Bravo 6-0-51-0, Tredwell 17-1-90-0, Walker 4-0-26-0.

Bonus points: Sussex 7pts, Kent 6pts.