Hampshire’s SACS-educated Gareth Berg took 3-73 in 28 overs, one of the better returns as Sussex harvested 444 against Hampshire in the English County league.

After Hampshire had been skittled out for 231 in 50 overs, he picked up another two in Sussex’s second innings, while James Tomlinson went wild with 4-37 to bowl out Sussex for 164. At the close, Hampshire were 181-4,  trailing by 197.

Berg has been playing in England since 2004 and, armed with an Italian passport, played international cricket for Italy in T20 qualifiers in 2012 and 2013.

Down in Taunton, Keaton Jennings started the season with a seven-wicket win after Somerset crumbled to 230. Durham needed just 149, to which Jennings contributed 26.

Johann Myburgh, who started so well with a top score of 118 in Somerset’s first innings, could offer just nine in the second while Tim Groenewald was able to add just one wicket from Durham’s chase.

Riki Wessels, son of Kepler, looking for redemption after scoring just one in Nottinghamshire’s  first innings of 298, improved to 38 in the second innings. It was a solid contribution to Notts’ 401, led by Chris Read’s 101 and James Taylor’s  61. Middlesex, who struggled to 181 first time around, are 57-1, trailing by 462. Vernon Philander has so far bowled seven overs for 21, but he will be expected to play a role in the final stages.

In Division Two, Jacques Rudolph and Colin Ingram spent a long day in the field as Leicestershire laboured to 435 in reply to Glamorgan’s 513, to which Rudolph contributed 111 and Ingram 38. It must have told, for Rudolph was dismissed for 15 when Glamorgan batted again. they ended on 47-3, with Ingram at the crease on two.

Rory Kleinveldt’s 48 contributed to an eighth-wicket stand of 115 with David Willey (104) as Northamptonshire built an unbeatable lead of 453 against Gloucestershire. At the close, they had leaked just 35 runs and led by 418.

Down in the Parks, Oxford, KevinPietersen did not bat in Surrey’s second innings of 335-7 dec. The match was drawn.