Prior makes his point

Matt Prior provided the perfect response to being left out of England's World Twenty20 squad with a century for Sussex against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

With Essex's James Foster preferred for the wicketkeeping spot for the competition, Prior had a point to prove when he arrived at the crease with Sussex 46 for three.

Taking advantage of an easy-paced wicket, Prior received solid support from Andrew Hodd and Rory Hamilton-Brown in making steady progress towards his 20th first-class century.

Prior's previous ton was for England in the Trinidad Test match earlier this year and his latest chanceless effort came off 134 balls and included nine fours.

Earlier Hampshire declared their first innings total at 350 for eight having gathered the nine runs they needed for an extra battling bonus point.

With the second day washed out by rain another hour was wiped off the schedule at the start of the third and Sussex were soon in trouble when they began their response.

Matt Prior's unbeaten 112 helped Sussex post a respectable reply to Hampshire's first innings 350

Irrepressible Dominic Cork had the Sussex captain Mike Yardy lbw for seven and Yardy was quickly followed back to the pavilion by opening partner Chris Nash and newcomer Ed Joyce.

Nash was the first of those to depart at 46 when he turned left-arm pace bowler James Tomlinson to Jimmy Adams at short leg.

Three balls later Joyce was bowled by Cork and it was then that Prior came to the rescue.

With Murray Goodwin, Prior put on a valuable 51 for the fourth wicket before Goodwin was dismissed in unfortunate circumstances.

Former Sussex bowler Billy Taylor managed to deflect a fierce straight drive from Prior into the stumps leaving Goodwin stranded out of his crease after making only seven.

It was then that Hodd began to get on top of the Hampshire bowling in a stand of 74 in 21 overs for the fifth wicket.

But the reintroduction of ex-England all-rounder Cork accounted for Hodd, who was leg before on the back foot for a valuable 25.

Hamilton-Brown then kept Prior company in a partnership of 38 for the sixth wicket which was broken only when Hamilton-Brown appeared to deflect a delivery from Tomlinson into his stumps off his pads.

Robin Martin-Jenkins came out to join Prior as the sunshine gave way to dark clouds and with the score 230-6 in the 72nd over the players came off for bad light.

At this stage the resolute Prior was 112 not out but the game seemingly heading for a draw with only one day remaining.

Sussex are 120 behind in their first innings having safely avoided the follow-on.