Notts seamer Mark Ealham accounted for the Sussex top three but middle order runs helped the home side reach 292-5 at the end of day one at Hove.

A fine leg-side catch from Chris Read saw Michael Yardy dismissed after a patient 64 and Murray Goodwin added 79 before falling leg-before to Darren Pattinson.

Pattinson’s direct hit saw Chris Adams run out after a poor call from Goodwin who has now scored 1,000 runs in the seven of the last eight seasons.

Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell resisted the temptation to hand a debut to Alex Hales but Ashwell Prince became the 600th player to play first-class cricket for the county in his first LV County Championship appearance for the club.

Carl Hopkinson (53) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (13) will resume for Sussex.

Sussex: Yardy, Nash, Goodwin, Adams, Hopkinson, Hodd, Martin-Jenkins, Rayner, Beer, Lewry, Kirtley

Nottinghamshire: Jefferson, Shafayat, Wagh, Prince, Wood, Read, Franks, Ealham, Ferley, Pattinson, Shreck