Luke Wells stood firm for Sussex as wickets tumbled around him on a lively day at Hove.

The opener was 73 not out at stumps with his county on 140-5 on the opening day of their Championship fixture with Warwickshire at Hove.

That was in reply to Warwickshire’s 180 all out, in which Ollie Robinson took career-best first-class figures of 6-33.

Robinson claimed the first six wickets to fall and Steve Magoffin (3-45) the final three.

But batting was never easy under overcast skies and with suggestions of variable bounce.

That made Wells’ first half century of the season in a marathon final session all the more valuable.

He helped Chris Nash put on 46 for the first wicket and Sussex looked comfortable at 115-2.

But spinner Jeetan Patel claimed three quick wickets, including Luke Wright who was stumped for nought by Tim Ambrose as he went down the wicket.

Patel produced a slightly quicker ball, which possibly kept low, to bowl young Harry Finch for 12.

The spinner also had Craig Cachopa caught at slip for two.

Earlier Nash (17) edged the troublesome Rikki Clarke to slip and Joyce (nine) gloved a lifting delivery by Keith Barker into the gloves of Ambrose for nine.