County Championship: Hampshire take control against Sussex

Adam Wheater joined Hampshire from Essex in 2013

Adam Wheater's first century of the season and 99 from Gareth Berg laid the platform for an excellent day for Hampshire against Sussex at Hove.

The visitors began on 116-4 and James Vince moved to 76 before he and Sean Ervine fell to bring Wheater and Berg together at 197-7.

The two scored at more than a-run-ball in a partnership of 165 to give the visitors a first-innings lead of 141.

Fidel Edwards then took 4-21 as Sussex closed on 142-5, a single-run lead.

After a first day in which 14 wickets fell, and on a wicket that consistently challenged the batsmen, Hampshire would have been expecting a difficult day.

And nightwatchman Danny Briggs soon edged behind, before Vince was caught at slip off Matthew Hobden after making his first half century of the season.

When Ervine departed shortly after, lbw to Matthew Hobden, Sussex looked set for a first-innings lead.

Wheater and Berg had other ideas and counter-attacked to turn a position of weakness into one of strength as they took the fight to a tiring Sussex attack.

Wheater reached his eighth first-class century from just 82 balls before top-edging a sweep off Luke Wells to slip on 111, while Berg struck four sixes, but missed out on a third hundred when he was run out by Hobden as he pushed for a second to end the innings on 392.

Paceman Edwards then reinforced Hampshire's excellent day, removing the top three batsmen to leave the hosts 23-3, before returning to the attack to trap Chris Nash (50) lbw.

Gareth Berg hits out during his 98-ball innings

Gareth Berg is run out by Matthew Hobden on 99 to close Hampshire's innings on 392

Fidel Edwards celebrates bowling Matt Machan to leave Sussex 16-2