Sussex slumped into trouble on a frustrating rain-interrupted day in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy tie against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

They struggled to 119 for seven in 38 overs after being put in by John Crawley in cold, wet and miserable conditions.

Play did not start until 3.30, and even after that there were two more rain interruptions before bad light ended play for the day at 7pm.

John Wood returned to Lancashire's one-day team in place of Glen Chapple, who was again ruled out by injury. And the former Durham seamer soon had Sussex in trouble, taking a wicket in each of his first two overs.

First Richard Montgomerie edged to first slip, where Mike Atherton took a good low catch, then the left-handed Michael Yardy was bowled off an inside edge.

Chris Adams joined Murray Goodwin to steer Sussex to 41 for two at the first rain break, but shortly afterwards the Sussex skipper edged Peter Martin to slip, with Atherton again taking the catch.

Goodwin moved on impressively to 39 from 55 balls with two fours and a flicked leg-side six off Wood.

But the Zimbabwean became the third man caught by Atherton, this time off Andy Flintoff. And Flintoff then had Bas Zuiderent lbw first ball to put himself on a hat-trick.

Jamie Carpenter denied him that but Lancashire then turned to Muttiah Muralitharan on his last appearance before going home to Sri Lanka and he had Matthew Prior lbw.

And when Mike Smethurst had Carpenter superbly caught by Chris Schofield low down at backward point, Sussex were facing an uphill struggle to set Lancashire much of a target - with a home quarter-final against Durham on offer for the winners.

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