Ben Brown and Ed Joyce led a spirited fightback after Middlesex had threatened to bowl Sussex out cheaply at Lord's in LV= County Championship Division One.
Tim Murtagh took three early wickets with the new ball after Sussex skipper Michael Yardy had won the toss and elected to bat, finishing with figures of 4-41.
Steven Finn also picked up two wickets as Sussex slumped to 66 for five before Joyce and Brown began the recovery. Finn, by the close, had 3-65.
Joyce made 77 in a partnership of 81 with Brown, who went on to add 63 with Naveed Arif Gondal before falling for 70 as Sussex reached 242 for eight by the end of play. Gondal made 38.
Murtagh put Sussex on the back foot, producing an impressive opening spell.
Tim Murtagh claims 4-41 as Middlesex reduce Sussex to 242 for eight on day one of their LV= County Championship clash at Lord's
Chris Nash went for a duck off the second ball of the match when he edged a delivery that bounced and left him to wicketkeeper John Simpson.
Murtagh then removed Joe Gatting and Murray Goodwin in the space of four balls to leave Sussex rocking at 16 for three.
Gatting got an inside edge on to his pad with the ball carrying to Ollie Rayner at second slip while Goodwin's poor run continued as he nicked his fourth ball to Dawid Malan at second slip for a duck.
Yardy then chased a wide one from Gareth Berg and was caught by Finn for eight, meaning four of Sussex's top five had failed to get into double figures.
The in-form Luke Wright struck three quick boundaries before paying for a lack of footwork as he was caught behind off Finn for 14.
Joyce had one reprieve when former Sussex team-mate Rayner was unable to hold on to a sharp chance at second slip when on 33.
The Ireland international piled on the runs with Brown before gloving a catch down the leg side to Simpson off Finn. His innings lasted 174 balls and included 10 fours.
Brown continued to frustrate the home bowlers with Gondal, bringing up his first half-century of the season off 127 balls with five fours.
Middlesex ended the day well as the arrival of the new ball saw Finn remove Brown and Gondal fall to Murtagh after a short break for rain.
Source: www.ecb.co.uk
Sussex fight back after nightmare start at Lord's - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex fight back after nightmare start at Lord's
6:59pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis
Sussex fought back after making a nightmare start to their County Championship match with Middlesex at Lord's.
Skipper Mike Yardy saw his side collapse to 33-4 and 66-5 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
But battling innings from Ed Joyce and Ben Brown saw Sussex recover to 242-8 at the close of day one in the division one encounter.
The day got off to the worst possible start for Sussex on what looked a decent batting wicket and favourable conditions.
Opener Chris Nash fell off the second ball when he edged a lifting delivery from Murtagh to the wicketkeeper.
Murtagh then struck twice in the space of four balls to dismiss Joe Gatting and Mike Goodwin, both caught in the slips, and when Yardy followed Sussex were reeling on 33-4.
Luke Wright and Joyce put a temporary halt to the carnage with a partnership of 33 before Wright played a loose shot to a delivery from Stephen Finn and was caught behind.
Joyce survived when Ollie Rayner was unable to hold on to a sharp chance at second slip to complete his half century.
He put on 81 with Brown before gloving a catch down the leg-side to the wicketkeeper having made 77 to give Finn his second wicket.
Brown and Naved Arif then added 63 for the seventh wicket before Finn ended Brown's inning with the new ball.
The players had just returned after a short rain delay and Brown's concentration seemed to be affected as he took a swipe at a wide ball and edged to Rayner at second slip for 70.
Arif followed for 38 when he tried to cut a ball from Murtagh (4-41) which was too close to him and picked out Gareth Berg at backward point.
Jimmy Anyon and Steve Magoffin were both on 11 when play was brought to a close after 92 overs.
Source: www.theargus.co.uk
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