Chawla proves irresistable for Sussex

Sussex's close fielders celebrate the fall of Craig Kieswetter, as bowler Piyush Chawla turned day one at Hove on its head

Piyush Chawla enjoyed another excellent day for his new county despite an impressive hundred from Marcus Trescothick on the first day of the LV= County Championship match between Sussex and Somerset at Hove.

The India Test leg-spinner, who took eight wickets and scored his maiden first-class hundred in Sussex's win over Worcestershire on Sunday, took 5-95 from 33 overs, bowling unchanged from the Sea End as Somerset subsided from a promising 138 for none to close on 314 for nine.

Somerset had made serene progress after winning the toss during the morning session as Trescothick and Arul Suppiah took advantage of superb batting conditions to post an opening stand of 138 on a slow, dry pitch.

Their only alarm came when Suppiah would have been run out on 27 had Dwayne Smith’s shy from backward point hit the stumps with the batsman well short of his ground.

But Chawla struck with the first and last deliveries of the 47th over to change the complexion of the day. Suppiah was leg before playing back to a googly and James Hildreth defeated by a top-spinner which bowled him between bat and pad.

Trescothick has made a half-century in every championship game this season but this was only the second time he has converted it to a hundred.

The sluggish nature of the pitch made it difficult for him to time his attacking strokes but he looked in the mood for a big score when he was run out for 109.

Marcus Trescothick (right) salutes his second championship century of the season prior to being run out for 109

Taking on Jason Lewry’s arm at mid-on, he was comfortably beaten running to the non-striker’s end by a direct hit which knocked out middle stump. Trescothick’s 109 came off 182 balls with 17 fours.

Chawla then struck twice in three overs after tea to put Sussex in control. Skipper Justin Langer was lbw sweeping although the Somerset captain clearly felt he had hit the ball.

Craig Kieswetter was superbly taken by England wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who had a good day behind the stumps, off a thin outside edge.

Off-spinner Chris Nash gave Chawla excellent support after tea and picked up a deserved wicket when his arm-ball knocked back Alfonso Thomas’ off stump.

Peter Trego and championship debutant Max Waller steadied their side with an eighth-wicket stand of 44 but Jason Lewry returned to the attack to bowl Waller in the second over with the second new ball.

David Stiff was bowled off his pads by the left-armer and in the same over Charl Willoughby was dropped at third slip by Andrew Hodd.

Last man Willoughby hung around long enough to ensure Somerset collected a third batting point and see Trego to his half-century, made off 85 balls with two sixes and six fours. But this was Chawla’s day.