Aaron Thomason & Tom Haines put Sussex on top at end of day one

Sussex's opening pair of Tom Haines and Aaron Thomason made a significant dent in Glamorgan's first innings total of 285 all out by guiding their team to 99 without loss at the close of day one of the two sides' LV=Insurance County Championship encounter at Sophia Gardens.

Dominant against a wayward home attack, both men played some wonderful shots as they scored at 4.3 runs per over. Haines, on 43 not out, will have his eyes on a third century in as many first-class matches, while Thomason, who has 52, will be hoping to convert his second first-class fifty into a maiden century on day two.

He deserved one against Lancashire last week, and he's got one already this week! 🙌

Fifty off 64 balls for @AaronThomason24 with 🔟 boundaries. Some of these shots... 😍 pic.twitter.com/MoCxeAHLuo

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 15, 2021

Earlier, an excellent unbeaten hundred from Kiran Carlson lifted Glamorgan to what appeared to be a respectable score having been inserted by the visitors. Sussex were on top in the opening overs of the match with Ollie Robinson and Harry Crocombe getting the ball to move late, but Glamorgan game back into it thanks to Carlson’s hundred and David Lloyd’s 84.

Robinson had Nick Selman trapped lbw with the fourth ball of the match and had Andy Balbirnie dismissed the same way in the seventh over of the Glamorgan innings. When Crocombe got another lbw, this time Billy Root, Glamorgan were 23 for three and in serious danger of collapsing.

Lloyd’s attacking intent and Carlson’s more measured accumulation blunted the Sussex attack, with the pair adding 110 for the fourth wicket. It was Crocombe who ended Lloyd’s fine knock of 84 from just 99 balls soon after lunch with a ball that bounced and moved away to give George Garton a sharp catch at second slip. 

Carlson remained unflustered as partners fell around him with Glamorgan losing three wickets for 46 runs when Crocombe and Robinson were reintroduced to the attack. Glamorgan captain Chris Cooke, who scored a century at Headingley last week, and Callum Taylor both fell to Robinson, who was fully deserving of figures of 4 for 50.  

Carlson was lucky to survive on 91 when Tom Clark’s first ball in first-class cricket was edged to Garton at first slip who failed to take the chance diving to his right. He made the most of this good fortune, registering his fifth first-class hundred from 152 balls.

 An 87-run stand between Carlson and Dan Douthwaite took Glamorgan to 266 for six. Douthwaite was just starting to open his shoulders and look to score quickly when he mistimed a drive off Stuart Meaker for 36. Three quick wickets from Jack Carson rounded off the Glamorgan innings with Carlson unbeaten on 127.

While Carlson and Lloyd had done well the Sussex opening pair put Glamorgan’s efforts into context, with none of the Glamorgan’s bowlers getting the same movement with the new ball that Robinson and Crocombe had managed.  

Sussex vice-captain, Robinson reflected on his team's bowling performance. “It was good to get three early wickets. We let it slip a little bit in the second hour but I thought the rest of the day we were on top. We pulled it back a little bit after lunch and Jack Carson finished off their innings with three quick wickets which was very handy."

Right on the money so far! 🤑

A great start this morning from @OllieRobinson25 and @Henry_Crocombe! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OcopdKDCEc

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 15, 2021

n the decision to bowl first and the efforts of Sussex's opening batsmen, he said, “We just thought it had live grass on it and the best time to bowl would be the first day. Kiran Carlson played very well and stopped us from bowling them out for 200. Overall we have had a good day.

"The lads batted well tonight and we finished well. They’ve worked really hard this winter in the tent at Hove in pre-season. They have both made big strides and looked really solid at the moment. So that is good to see, and good to see that we have that solidarity at the top of the order. It sets us up well for the rest of tomorrow and hopefully we can get a big lead."

Commenting on his hundred and the state of the match at the end of day one, Carlson said, “Obviously it was nice to get a personal milestone there and to put the team in a decent spot. But I think we didn’t bowl as well as we could have that last little session. It’s important for us now to put that behind us and turn up tomorrow with a fresh start and try and take a few early wickets."

“I think that’s the way we want to play as a batting group, when we are in a tough spot we want to be nice and positive towards it. There was definitely a bit in the wicket early on and obviously OIlie Robinson is a quality bowler. That partnership, we were really pleased to get that and then push on towards 200.” 

Watch day two live from 11am on Friday on the Sussex Cricket Match Centre.

Watch all of the highlights from day one here: