With seventeen wickets falling and the visitors unveiling the third overseas player to represent them this season, all in all it turned out to be a fairly hectic first day at Hove.

When the crowd were informed that for Surrey at number eight it would be Mushtaq Ahmed, the consensus of opinion was that the announcer must have got his Mushtaqs in a twist. But word soon spread that the Oval outfit had indeed snapped up the former Pakistan and Somerset leg-spinner, who was spotted in Keith Medlycott’s company during the floodlit game the previous night.

Excused for a fortnight from playing for Little Stoke in the North Staffordshire-South Cheshire League, while his fellow countryman Saqlain Mushtaq goes off to appear in the Morocco Cup, the 32-year-old, who last played Test cricket in March 2001, will be given the chance to add to his tally of 864 first-class wickets against Sussex, Leicestershire and Hampshire.

Medlycott predicted: “Mushy will add a sparkle and mystique”, but before Ahmed could bear out his new manager’s words the seamers went to work on a damp pitch, with almost all of them taking full advantage.

It was clear from the visitors’ cautious start that batsmanship was unlikely to be a permanent occupation. That said, in the first hour and three quarters, the only wicket to fall came from a direct hit by Innes at cover. But either side of lunch Ian Ward, Mark Ramprakash and Adam Hollioake were all victims, lbw, to balls that appeared to keep low.

For a time it looked as if Ramprakash and Shahid were picking up where they had left off in the Norwich Union League encounter. Ramprakash was the brighter of the two, driving Davis straight for six before reeling off an exquisite cover drive in the 31st over. Shahid had his moments too, though, and was a tad unlucky to be caught behind down the leg-side when the score was on the dreaded Nelson.

Alistair Brown made 49 off 52 balls, including seven fours mainly square of the wicket, before he also fell victim to a ball that misbehaved. His attempted on drive ended up at cover. Less than ten minutes later Kevin Innes was celebrating a career best 4-41 over tea, which was taken early on account of Surrey being dismissed for their lowest first innings score this term.

Sussex were soon in trouble themselves when Richard Montgomerie’s full blooded on-drive was taken at short leg by Nadeem Shahid and Murray Goodwin shouldered arms.

Tony Cottey and Chris Adams then added 54 in quick time before the introduction of Mushtaq Ahmed brought about another run out. Adams turned the ball to leg and set off immediately, but unfortunately Cottey needed longer legs to beat Jonathan Batty’s return throw from short square leg.

Three overs later Mushtaq at last had a hand in proceedings when he beat off Mark Ramprakash to take the tumbling catch at wide mid-on which saw the back of Chris Adams off the bowling of Ed Giddins.

After that the home side lost their way again to leave Surrey in front, if not ahead on points, when bad light and rain eventually intervened. Afterwards the umpires said they would be obliged to report the pitch to the ECB, but saw no real need for a Pitch Liaison Officer to pay a visit to Hove today.

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