Northamptonshire and Sussex finished the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division Two game with honours even at Hove. Northamptonshire were 292 for seven at the close and with more time lost to rain and bad light.
Northamptonshire resumed on 95 for two with both Luke Procter (41) and Karun Nair (12) looking in good touch. Karun raised the fifty partnership when he slash-cut Seales over backward-point for six before cover-driving the next delivery for four.
From the Cromwell Road end, Robinson bowled with five slips as John Simpson, the Sussex captain, experimented with a number of funky fields in an effort to make something happen. But if that placed pressure on the Northamptonshire batsmen it also left plenty of gaps in the field, and required the bowlers to hit their lengths.
Karun, who had batted with classy ease for his 57, hit an ordinary delivery from Danny Lamb – who was in the middle of an eye-catching gallop down the hill – straight to short extra-cover, when James Coles took a sharp catch. At lunch, Northamptonshire were 202 for three, with Procter on 82 and George Bartlett, making his debut after signing from Somerset at the end of last season, on 17.
Procter looked composed and resilient at the crease, so it was some surprise when, at 222, the skipper was well caught by Tom Clark at first slip as he attempted to drive Coles. Procter had hit eight fours and a six in his 225-ball 92.
Sussex then took the new ball and with the second delivery with it Seales had Bartlett caught at third slip by Coles for 27 to make it 228 for five.
Twenty runs later Robinson, in his 18th over of the innings, had Rob Keogh caught at first slip by Tom Alsop. Shortly after, the batting side brought up their first batting point with Saif Zaib driving his side forward.
With the light fading, Sussex went back to their spinners and Coles picked up his second wicket when Saif Zaib was adjudged to have edged one onto his pad, and was well caught by Oli Carter at short leg. The rain was not far away and it drove the players from the field at 292 for seven, with tea just round the corner. Play was abandoned for the day a little more than an hour later.