Sussex's Clark hits ton on Foxes' top-flight return
Tom Clark makes an opening-day century for the second season in a row as Sussex make 361 after being asked to bat first at Leicestershire.
Rothesay County Championship, Division One, Uptonsteel Grace Road (day one) Sussex 361: Clark 101, Haines 56; Green 3-54, Holland 3-79 Leicestershire 15-1: Robinson 1-5 Leicestershire (3 pts) trail Sussex (3 pts) by 346 runs Match scorecard Tom Clark took full advantage of being dropped in single figures to make an opening-day century for the second season in a row as visitors Sussex made an impressive 361 after being asked to bat first against promoted Leicestershire. The tall left-hander, who struck 140 against Warwickshire in his first innings of the 2025 County Championship campaign, made 101 against the Division Two champions, having been put down in the slips on six. Opener Tom Haines, a possible contender for England's top-order after making a good impression for England Lions in Australia, began his domestic campaign with an eye-catching half-century, with all-rounder Tom Price chipping in with a useful 43 on debut after his move from Gloucestershire.
Ben Green (3-54) was the best of the Leicestershire attack, backed up by skipper Ian Holland (3-79). Faced with four overs at the close, Leicestershire lost opener Rishi Patel, caught behind off Ollie Robinson, Sussex's new skipper and another with his eyes on the England side, to finish on 15-1. Sussex started the season with a 12-point deduction as a consequence of needing an ECB bailout following heavy financial losses.
They will see this match as an opportunity to make early inroads into that deficit, to which end they should be well pleased with their day. More so given that the pitch at Uptonsteel Grace Road looked as bowler-friendly as might have been anticipated on the opening day of the season, even if Sussex's 154-2 at lunch might suggest otherwise. Leicestershire's preparations have been hit by a rash of injuries among their seamers.
New signing Josh Davey is sidelined along with Ben Mike, Alex Green and Josh Hull. Yet those absences could be offered only as a partial excuse for Sussex's profitable morning. Holland and the experienced Green would have been picked even from a full squad, as probably would have Tom Scriven.