Booth, Woakes, a liberated pigeon, a skein of geese and 29 seagulls

Title-chasers Warwickshire and Sussex fought out a fascinating sliver of player on a heavily weather-affected opening day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Edgbaston.  

Sussex, put in, were 99 for three from 30.3 overs when rain returned to wipe out the last session. They negotiated the new ball for the loss of only one wicket as second-wicket pair Tom Haines (49 from 85 balls) and Tom Clark (30, 57) added 69, but Michael Booth then removed both in his first 13 balls to even the contest right up.  

With the weather set fair for the next three days, a compelling contest is in prospect with both sides knowing that victory would propel them among the front-runners of the title race.