Dominic Thornely reckons he is bowling better than he ever has done - thanks to help from Bruce Reid.

The Hampshire new boy took a career best 3-38 on his home debut a day after a net session with the club's bowling coach.

Thornley said: "I'm a batting all rounder, a batsman who bowls a bit, but today was the best I've ever felt in a first class game.

"I did some work with Bruce Reid the day before the game where we changed a few things and I felt like my rhythm was very good.

"We were working on my run-up and where my front foot was landing to get me running straighter down the wicket.

"It's always a thrill when you work at something and it comes off and to take three wickets was a bonus."

Medium pacer Thornely,a new South Wales teammate of Michael Clarke and Simon Katich, had only taken ten first class wickets in his career before yesterday - at a cost of 67 runs each.

"I'll have to ring my new South Wales mates because there are a few batters back home that like to have a bowl," he added.

"But with guys like Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Matthew Nicholson and Stuart MacGill it's harder for someone like me to bowl a few overs over there.

"It means that this opportunity at Hampshire is one that I hope is going to improve my bowling, which is something I really want to do to press my claim as an all-rounder in the Australian side."

Thornely watched Hampshire progress to 34-1 in response to Sussex's 212.

Sussex coach Mark Robinson was unhappy with the wicket but ECB pitch liaison officer Peter Walker was not alarmed.

And Thornely, the next man in when play restarted this morning, was confident.

He added: "If you apply yourself out there there are certainly some runs to be had. You have to work hard for your runs but Chris Adams played a good innings, he showed the sort of application that is needed.

"We need to continue to put pressure on Sussex like we have done so far."