Samit Patel made a superb century to put Nottinghamshire well on top after the first day of their Championship clash with Sussex at Hove.

The visitors were 164-3 when Patel came to the crease after lunch having been put in to bat by Sussex skipper Ed Joyce.

The former England batsman – who has not played for his country for more than a year – guided Notts to 408-5 at the close and will resume on 142 in the morning.

Patel combined with Chris Read to put on 160 for the sixth wicket with Read unbeaten on 61.

Patel’s innings was an excellent one and he offered just one very difficult chance when he was on 32 when Ben Brown was unable to hold on to a diving chance at first slip.

He went on to reach his 50 off 64 balls and proceeded to complete the 20th first class century of his career from 137 deliveries.

Earlier, Phi Jacques had got Notts off to a good start by putting on 74 for the first wicket with Alex Hales after being given a reprieve in the first over when he was dropped by Brown in the slips.

Brown made some amends by taking a low catch off the bowling of James Anyon to remove Hales with the batsman questioning whether the ball had carried.

Jacques also saw an edge fly just wide of Rory Hamilton-Brown’s grasp at second slip and another somehow evade the gloves of Matt Prior who was understandably rusty behind the stumps having not kept in a first class game since December.

Jacques luck ran out when he became debutant Matt Hobden’s maiden Championship wicket having made 67 with Prior taking a straightforward catch.

Luke Wright picked up two wickets after lunch – dismissing Michael Lumb for 39 and Riki Wessels for 11 – while there was another impressive scalp for Hobden when he had James Taylor caught at mid-off for 29.

The day was in the balance at that stage but Patel and Read ensured it was the visitors who finished it well in the ascendancy.