Fears that Sussex might still be sucked into First Division relegation trouble increased at Grace Road yesterday.

Their top order batting folded after 45 minutes of indisciplined bowling earlier in the day had handed Leicestershire a precious first innings lead.

A sporting pitch had given the county's bowlers as much assistance as it had Leicestershire's on the first day and when opener Ian Sutcliffe was eighth out at 202, having anchored the innings for 74 overs for his 75, Sussex must have fancied their chances of gaining a useful lead.

Instead Carl Crowe and Devon Malcolm left them bemused and bewildered as Leicestershire's last two wickets put on 77 to give their side a lead of 32, a potentially crucial contribution in a low-scoring contest.

The Foxes emerged after tea with their tails up and knocked over four Sussex wickets before the county had cleared their arrears.

The five century opening stands Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin last season are now just a golden memory. The first wicket pair have not put on more than 40 together in the last nine innings and when Montgomerie was pinned by Javagal Srinath in the third over two runs were on the board.

The real damage was done, however, in the space of five balls. Phil DeFreitas's late inswinger trapped Tony Cottey lbw and he produced a beauty next up which bounced and left Chris Adams who gloved it to the wicketkeeper.

Goodwin was then lbw for the 12th time in 24 Championship innings to the second ball of Srinath's next over, the delivery keeping horribly low as it nipped back off the seam.

Robin Martin-Jenkins and Tim Ambrose at least managed to take Sussex into the lead but Martin-Jenkins followed an awayswinger from Darren Maddy, leaving Ambrose and nightwatchman James Kirtley to negotiate five overs before the close.

The solemn faces in the visitors' dressing room said it all as they trooped off with the score 56-5 and Sussex ahead by just 24.

Leicestershire bowled superbly with the new ball but the seeds of Sussex's downfall had been sewn when Crowe and co. were making hay before tea.

Crowe effectively made his 34 runs batting on one leg because of a hip injury which meant he needed a runner.

He joined Srinath with the score on 170 and helped secure a batting point in 19 overs of attritional cricket. Sussex yielded every run grudgingly at that stage as Kevin Innes bowled four maidens in a seven over spell which also brought him Sutcliffe's wicket while Mark Davis wheeled away at the Bennett End on a pitch giving increasing assistance to the off-spinner.

Srinath had two crucial reprieves. Matt Prior missed an easy stumping when the Indian had a swipe at Davis and the wicketkeeper was at fault again when confusion left all three batsmen at the wrong end. Prior failed to gather Cottey's throw from mid-wicket, allowing Srinath to scramble home.

Srinath eventually edged Kirtley to slip in the third over with the new ball but he had helped put on 32. If the ninth wicket stand left Sussex bemused it was nothing to the frustration when Crowe and Malcolm put together a last wicket partnership of 45.

Malcolm has no pretentions to batting whatsover but if he connects the ball invariably goes a long way. In 18 deliveries faced he twice cleared the rope at long on off Martin-Jenkins and then swiped an even bigger six which landed in the car park to spoil Davis's impeccable figures.

Crowe was yorked by Kirtley but it was no surprise when Leicestershire started feasting on a Sussex batting line-up who have lost collective confidence at the worst time.

Kirtley finished with 4-89 in front of England selector Geoff Miller but it was not such a good day for Martin-Jenkins who is being mentioned as a contender for the vacant all-rounder's berth in next week's Oval Test. On a bowler's pitch his nine overs yesterday cost 45, although Miller was on his way home by the time Malcolm began taking liberties.

Kirtley struck early in the day when inswing accounted for Darren Stevens. Sutcliffe and skipper Vince Wells put on 72 for the fourth wicket before Sussex hit back with three wickets in four overs.

Wells, who hit Davis's first ball for six, fell in the same over caught off bat and pad, Ashley Wright prodded an away swinger from Billy Taylor to slip and two balls later Neil Burns played across a straight one.

DeFreitas kept Sutcliffe company for 18 overs after lunch before mis-timing a drive. Sutcliffe popped up a return catch to the persevering Innes but his 75 off 220 balls might turn out to be the match-winning knock.