Cork picks up early wickets

Cork, who is 38 in a fortnight, dismissed Ed Joyce, Matt Prior and Chris Nash to put Hampshire in a commanding position in the showpiece where south-coast bragging rights were at stake.

Sussex skipper Mike Yardy won the toss but was at the crease himself within 11 overs after Cork's spell of three wickets for six runs in 11 balls.

First to go was Joyce, who attempted to leave a delivery but chopped onto his stumps, bringing Prior to the crease.

Prior was back at the ground where he helped England defeat Australia earlier in the week but it was not a pleasant return - he survived a huge leg-before shout off the first delivery he faced before edging behind to Nic Pothas.

Cork's manic celebrations suggested that Hampshire felt they had Sussex's key man, with Prior the only member of the Ashes team to play between the second and third Tests.

Nash's scruffy innings was ended when Cork trapped him lbw.

The onus was then on Yardy and Murray Goodwin to steady the innings but the latter was dismissed for just a single when Chris Tremlett was accurate with a direct hit, leaving Sussex 43 for four.