MCC v Sussex, Lord's, 2nd day

Goodwin hits fine ton as Harmison finds his line

Andrew McGlashan at Lord's

April 14, 2007

Sussex 265 for 3 (Goodwin 134, Yardy 80*, Kirtley 1*) trail MCC 425 (Cook 142, Loudon 53, Kirtley 4-71) by 160 runs
Scorecard

Steve Harmison is trying to put the Ashes series behind him with the new season © Getty Images

Opening the bowling for MCC was a far cry from sending down the first ball at Brisbane and, with all due respect to Sussex's opening pair, Chris Nash and Carl Hopkinson, they aren't quite a match for Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer. But given Harmison's nightmares in Australia, any mini-battle overcome is a tick in the right column.

Harmison's recovery from an Ashes series which yielded a paltry 10 wickets at 61 began with plenty of time away from cricket following his retirement from one-day internationals. Then he went on Durham's pre-season tour to Cape Town where, by all reports, he bowled impressively. Now comes a steady increase in pressure in Durham's opening Championship matches. The first Test against West Indies, at Lord's, starts on May 17.

MCC didn't take the field until 10 minutes before lunch as Adil Rashid pushed them beyond 400 while James Kirtley finished with a deserved four wickets. Matthew Hoggard was then handed the opening over from the Nursery End, but finally Harmison's chance arrived. His first ball was angled down the leg side, but rose encouragingly from a length and passed by Nash's armpit through to Steven Davies.

After lunch he located his natural length, enjoying the Lord's bounce, and settled into a lively rhythm. There were a fair few balls the batsmen didn't have to play, but with each over he cranked up his pace. His wicket was typical Harmison; outside off stump, drawing Hopkinson into a push and producing an edge to first slip.

Harmison's legs and arms were now pumping with purpose as he tested the early-season form of Yardy and Goodwin. When he was rested his figures read a satisfying 8-3-11-1. At the other end Hoggard was a familiar presence and found early swing with the new ball, enough to remove Nash with an edge to the keeper. However, he was less controlled than Harmison, straying into the pads and falling victim to the short legside boundary when he bowled from the Nursery End.

Sussex responded impressively after falling to 32 for 2. Goodwin and Yardy were key components in their Championship success last summer and, after negotiating the efforts of Harmison, Hoggard and a lively Graham Onions, settled in on a balmy day. It was the first time in the history of this fixture (dating back to 1971 with a long gap between 1991 and 2004) that MCC have conceded a double-century stand.

Yardy, crab-like at the crease, offered little in the way of flamboyance and was quickly overtaken by Goodwin who drove and cut with power. He was especially quick onto anything loose from Rashid and at one point even tried to bring out the reverse sweep. MCC had a chance to remove him but Zoheb Sharif missed a regulation catch at square-leg as Goodwin laid into an Alex Loudon long-hop. His century arrived a few moments later off 142 balls. Harmison returned in the closing stages, but a commanding knock was ended by Sharif's gentle legspin as Goodwin lofted a drive into the deep.

Andrew McGlashan is staff writer of Cricinfo

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Hoggard strikes but Sussex secure draw

Sussex suffer Yardy blow as MCC build lead

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Marylebone Cricket Club v Sussex at Lord's

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Murray Goodwin

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