Chris Nash closed in on his third 50 of the season as Sussex made a solid start in their Championship match against Warwickshire at Horsham.

Nash was unbeaten on 46 at lunch as he helped guide Sussex to 99-1 after skipper Ed Joyce won the toss and elected to bat first.

Luke Wells put on 68 with Nash for the first wicket before he became the first wicket to fall having made 35. Former Sussex wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose took a superb diving catch after Rikki Clarke had found the inside edge of Wells’ bat.

Nash survived a similar scare when an inside edge off Clarke flew past Ambrose to the boundary but has otherwise been untroubled on what appears a good wicket for batting.

Ed Joyce is unbeaten on 14 with Craig Cachopa the next man due in on what is his Championship debut.