Sussex suffered a disastrous morning as they lost five quick wickets on day three of their Championship clash with Somerset at Hove.

The division one leaders slumped from 25-1 overnight to 72-6 as Luke Gregory made use of favourable bowling conditions on a helpful pitch.

Luke Wells provided some much needed resistance as he made his second consecutive half century to help Sussex reach lunch on 98-6.

Mike Yardy was the first wicket to fall as he was bowled by a ball from Alfonso Thomas which kept a bit low having added five to his overnight score of five.

Rory Hamilton-Brown was pinned lbw for a duck by Lewis Gregory who then had Matt Machan caught behind for ten.

Gregory picked up his third wicket when he uprooted Ben Brown’s stumps for four before Ashar Zaidi’s disappointing start to the season continued when he was controversially given out lbw to Jamie Overton despite the bowler not appealing.

Wells stood firm at the other end and followed up his half century in the second innings at Edgbaston by reaching his 50 off 69 balls with six fours.

The left-hander reached lunch unbeaten on 53 and found good support from Chris Jordan who is not out 5.