ASSISTED by a tricky pitch, Nottinghamshire took first-day honours after bowling Sussex out in the equivalent of two sessions after a delayed start.

The pitch’s lack of pace and low carry militated against strokeplay. There was no undue seam movement, but anyone landing the ball in the right areas proved difficult to force. In the morning session, Sussex crawled to 45 for two off 28 overs, both openers playing on.

Nottinghamshire’s pace quartet bowled with impressive discipline. Mark Ealham proved virtually impossible to get away, as did Paul Franks, who claimed the important wickets of Murray Goodwin, caught behind cutting, and Mike Yardy, bowled off an inside edge. Chris Adams was held at slip before Matt Prior, trying to hit over the top, was beaten in the flight by Graeme Swann.

Sussex did not bowl with the same accuracy as Nottinghamshire, who lost wickets to balls that came back in. Jason Gallian retired hurt after being hit by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

SUSSEX: First Innings

R R Montgomerie b Sidebottom 8
C D Hopkinson b Harris 2
M H Yardy b Franks 25
M W Goodwin c Read b Franks 29
*C J Adams c Gallian b Sidebottom 6
M J Prior b Swann 33
R S C Martin-Jenkins b Hussey 17
L J Wright lbw b Swann 13
Naved-ul-Hasan lbw b Ealham 2
Mushtaq Ahmed c Gallian b Ealham 1
J D Lewry not out0 Extras (lb 3, nb 4) 7
Total (66.3 overs) 143

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8, 2-10, 3-64, 4-75, 5-75, 6-114, 7-138, 8-140, 9-142.

BOWLING: Sidebottom 16-6-36-2; Harris 12-3-33-1; Ealham 13.3-7-17-2; Swann 15-4-25-2; Franks 9-5-24-2; Hussey 1-0-5-1.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: First Innings

D J Bicknell not out 28
*J E R Gallian retired hurt 10
R J Warren b Lewry 9
D J Hussey lbw b Naved-ul-Hasan 15
G P Swann not out 1
Extras (b 5, lb 4) 9
Total (2 wkts, 27 overs) 72
W R Smith, C M W Read, M A Ealham, P J Franks, R J Sidebottom and A J Harris to bat.

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-34, 2-64.

BOWLING: Naved-ul-Hasan 10-2-30-1; Lewry 7-1-20-1; Mushtaq Ahmed 6-3-8-0; Martin-Jenkins 4-2-5-0.

Umpires: R J Bailey and G I Burgess.