A maiden first-class century from Robin Martin-Jenkins transformed the first day of Sussex's crucial Championship match with Gloucestershire at Hove.

Martin-Jenkins made an unbeaten 111 as Sussex recovered from 70-5 to reach 263-6 before rain and bad light brought a premature close after just 3.1 overs were bowled after tea.

Martin-Jenkins hit three boundaries in four balls off Mark Alleyne in the penultimate over before tea to reach his hundred which was made off 126 balls and featured 17 boundaries and two sixes.

Sussex were in all sorts of trouble after they had been put in, but they were revived first by Martin-Jenkins and Michael Yardy (46) who put on 94 in 25 overs before Yardy fell leg before to Martyn Ball's off-spin.

That made Sussex 164-6, but Martin-Jenkins and Mark Davis then produced a thrilling counter-attack which is so far worth 99 off 112 balls with Davis resuming on Thursday on 43.

Sussex have already been assured of promotion but Gloucestershire's hopes of joining them have hardly been helped by their crippling injury list.

Six players, including wicket-keeper Jack Russell, are out through injury while Ian Harvey has been press-ganged into playing solely as a batsman despite rib problems.

Skipper Mark Alleyne's woes increased during the afternoon when James Averis limped off with a groin problem and may not be able to bowl in the match again.

There had been nothing wrong with his seam attack during the morning when they exploited a pitch offering plenty of help to bowlers who could put the ball in the right areas. There was some swing movement and the occasional ball lifted off a length.

None of the Sussex top order could make an impression as Averis, Alastair Bressington and debutant Roger Sillence shared the spoils before Martin-Jenkins led a superb Sussex fightback.

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