Luke Wright picked up two important wickets as Sussex’s bowlers fought hard in the afternoon session of the opening day of their Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.

Wright dismissed Michael Lumb for 39 and Rikki Wessels for 11 as the visitors went from 111-2 at lunch to 259-5 at tea.

There was also a second wicket for debutant Matt Hobden but Samit Patel ensured Notts remain on top with an unbeaten half century.

Wright struck with only his fifth ball after being brought into the attack when James Anyon had to go off the field with cramp. The England all-rounder found the edge of Lumb’s bat and Matt Prior took a good catch diving low to his left.

James Taylor made 29 before he was squared up by Hobden and looped a leading edge to Anyon at mid-off.

Wessels then gave away his wicket just before tea when he drove loosely at a ball from Wright to give Luke Wells a simple catch at extra cover.

Patel brought up his 50 off the final ball before tea, reaching his half century from 64 deliveries with six fours. He survived just one chance – on 32 - when Ben Brown was unable to hold on to what would have been a stunning catch diving high to his right.