CLOSE: Sussex 48-2 (16)

Yardy 24, Rayner 8 at the close. Still something in this pitch for those prepared to bend their backs but Sussex are in a decent position when they resume at 10.45 tomorrow. I'll be back then with more updates from Hove. Join me then.

WICKET: Sussex 32-2 (11.1)

Joyce goes for 2, the third batsman to be out playing on today. Success for Gareth Andrew in his second over up the slope. Sussex undoing some of their good work here. Yardy is 20 and Ollie Rayner has come in as night-watchman with four overs left after this one.

WICKET: Sussex 25-1 (7.2)

Nash goes for 10. Good prune from Mason draws him tentatively forward and quite a big nick to Davies. Yardy has just pulled a short ball from Arif over the pav for six chalks. He is 13, Joyce 2.

WORCS 256 all out

Wright has a five-for. Another short ball which Batty took on and he got a thin top edge which Hodd caught at full stretch above his head. Great catch - Hodd's had a good day. So Sussex knew what they were doing all along by putting Worcestershire in. They will be pleased with that. Now they have to get through 16 overs before stumps. Wright finished with 5-66.

WICKET: Worcs 245-9 (76)

Arif has another dart at a short ball from Wright and splices to deep mid-wicket where RMJ takes the catch. Batty 35 joined by Mehraj Ahmed.

Worcs 245-8 (75.2)

Another frustrating stand worth 41 now. Arif's previous best this season was 4 not out and, like Mason before him, he has rode his luck. He's also been dropped though, on 12, hard chance low to Hopkinson's left at third slip which seemed to go right through him. More pace and carry in this pitch than is usual at Hove and the seamers are relishing it. Just need to knock over the last two wickets. Batty 35, Arif 27.

Hi Loch Lomond - now that is a nice place. Sussex would have settled for this situation at tea. Arafat has bowled superbly today although I felt he over-did the short stuff a bit to Mason. I'd still have batted first though. Worcs look like a side struggling for form and confidence.

Tea: Worcs 213-6 (68)

Batty 29, Arif 4. Good session for Sussex, four wickets and they will fancy their chances of polishing off the Pears after tea.

WICKET: Worcs 204-8 (65.3)

Mason looked as if he could get out at any stage but he'd made 25 to take Worcs to 200 and a bonus point only to get out, top-edging a short-armed pull which went miles up. Hodd called it and took the catch. Useful runs by Mason nonetheless. Batty is 24 and the new batsman is Imran Arif.

Worcs 178-7 (60.1)

It might not be Imran and Le Rous in their pomp, but this is high-quality medium-fast bowling by Arafat and Wright. Mason, down on the card as a No11, clearly doesn't fancy it too much but to his credit he's getting into line and has managed to fend off a couple of short balls from Arafat to safety. Batty 15, Mason 10.

WICKET: Worcs 160-7 (54.4)

Great to see the Sussex seamers getting in amongst 'em but you have to say that another Pear has got himself out there. Andrew took on a short ball from Wright, played it like a complete novice and Collymore has got under the top edge at third man. Wasn't convinced Corey would cling on to that steepler but he did and Andrew's gone for 4. Batty is 7 and Matt Mason is the new batsman.

WICKET: Worcs 154-6 (50.1)

What a catch by Hodd as Davies goes for 25. Wright's first ball of a new spell got a thick edge and Hodd tumbled to his left in front of slip to hold an absolute belter, bit like Brad Haddin's to get rid of Matt Prior in the Test on Sunday. Batty 5 and the new batsman is Gareth Andrew.

Worcs 145-5 (46.4)

Should have been six down. Batty edged low to Yardy at slip off Arafat and despite getting both hands on it the ball went to ground. Batty 4, Davies 17 but outstanding bowling this by Arafat - I imagine the ball is reversing now.

WICKET: Worcs 139-5 (44.2)

Smith goes for 32 thanks to a great bit of fielding by Yardy. Smith top-edged pulling a shortish ball and Yardy ran 10 yards back from slip and dived full length to take the catch. Talk about leading by example. Now that decision to bowl first looks justified. Looks like a long Worcestershire tail if Sussex can get through this pair. Davies 16, Gareth Batty the new arrival.

WICKET: Worcs 121-4 (39.5)

A bit of luck for the persevering Collymore as Ali plays on to the base of his stumps leaving a ball outside his off pole. He's gone for 22 and a much-needed wicket for Sussex. Smith is 31 and Steve Davies is with him. Mushy's here today - bet he wishes he was bowling out there.

Lunch: Worcs 99-3 (33)

Sussex would have liked another wicket to justify the decision to bowl first but they have bowled pretty well. Arafat came back for two more overs from the sea end and Wright has bowled well again. Smith 26, Ali 7 at the break.

WICKET: Worcs 84-3 (22.4)

Wright strikes with the 16th ball of his spell after replacing Arafat as Solanki plays on for 19 driving through the off side. Decent pace generated by Wright here and that one was onto the batsman quicker than he expected. Smith is 20 and has been joined by Moeen Ali, who got a hundred when the sides met at New Road in June.

WICKET: Worcs 50-2 (13.4)

Martin-Jenkins strikes with his tenth ball and Moore goes lbw for 28. Wasn't a massive appeal but it looked like he missed a straight one - the only question might have been whether it was too high. Moore thought so, but Jerry Lloyds eventually stuck his finger up. That's better! Solanki 5, Ben Smith the new batsman.

WICKET: Worcs 36-1 (10.3)

Arafat strikes as Mitchell, on 12, spoons what looked like a slower ball straight to Luke Wright at mid off. Bad misjudegement by the batsman but much needed breakthrough. Moore is 19 and has been joined by Vikram Solanki.

Worcs 22-0 (6)

Two successive off-side boundaries by Moore to end Collymore's third over. Nothing yet to justify the decision to bowl first - nice, sunny day and although Arafat has beaten the bat a couple of times the Worcs' openers have looked fairly solid. Moore 13, Mitchell 5. Morning Loch Lomond. I'll let you know at lunch whether fielding first was a good decision but my first reaction when I saw Yardy doing his impersonation of a bowler after the toss was that he'd lost it again (the toss that is).

Worcs 12-0 (3)

Arafat had an appeal for a caught behind in the first over but no dramas otherwise for Moore (5) and Mitchell (3). Collymore opening up from the sea end but a couple of times he has strayed down the leg side.

Good morning and welcome to Hove for our coverage of Sussex's important Championship game against Worcestershire.

The news from the centre is that Mike Yardy has won the toss and Sussex will... bowl.

Surprise that, pitch is on the pavilion side but looks like most Hove wickets. We shall see.

Expected change in the Sussex side sees Yasir Arafat replace Pepler Sandri. Worcestershire have a few problems with injuries to seamers so they are giving a Championship debut to Mehraj Ahmed, a right-arm quickish bowler, and Imran Arif comes in for the promising youngster Richard Jones.

Sussex: Yardy, Nash, Joyce, Goodwin, Hopkinson, Wright, Hodd, Arafat, Martin-Jenkins, Rayner, Collymore.

Worcestershire: Mitchell, Moore, Solanki, Smith, Moeen Ali, Davies, Batty, Mehraj Ahmed, Andrew, Imran Arif, Mason.

Lovely morning here, sunny and warm and we will be underway slightly earlier at 10.45am. This is to allow the game to finish earlier on Friday before Sussex head up the M40 to Birmingham to prepare for T20 finals on Saturday.

Let us know your thoughts on what's going on and anything else to do with Sussex cricket, especially that decision to bowl first.