Sussex paid the price for some loose batting at Derby and were indebted to a maiden Championship half-century from Mark Davis to take them towards a decent first innings total.

At 106-1, Sussex were looking at a big score but all the recognised batting fell to rash strokes and it needed a solid stand between Davis and Matthew Prior to rebuild the innings.

There was nothing to suggest anything other than a hot, fruitless day in the field for Derbyshire when Chris Adams won the toss and the openers put on 56 in 15 overs.

But Richard Montgomerie carved a short ball to square cover and Adams was caught behind flashing at a wide delivery.

Murray Goodwin advanced to 67 from 98 balls when he cut slow left-arm spinner Lian Wharton to deep gully three overs before lunch.

Wharton showed excellent control on a good batting pitch and Sussex continued to throw wickets away with Bas Zuiderent nudging another wide ball to the wicketkeeper and Michael Yardy pulling a short one to square leg.

When Robin Martin-Jenkins clipped Trevor Smith to square leg, Sussex were in danger of falling well short at 174-6 but Davis and Prior dug in to add 62 in 33 overs.

Prior made 31 before he was caught behind down the leg side off Smith and Jason Lewry went without scoring when he drove a head high catch to mid off.

Davis reached his 50 after batting for 167 minutes in the penultimate over of the day and at the close, was 51 not out with Sussex 273-8.

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