Lancashire kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive after mounting a spirited fightback on the opening day of their Championship clash with Sussex at Hove.

Sussex looked to be well on top when they reduced the visitors to 148-7 after skipper Ed Joyce won the toss and elected to bowl.

But Luke Procter led an impressive rearguard action as he made his first Championship half century of the season to swing the match back in Lancashire’s favour.

Procter (81 not out) found good support from Glen Chapple, Simon Kerrigan and James Anderson as the visitors were finally bowled out for 320 just before the close of play.

That left Sussex openers Chris Nash and Luke Wells having to face two overs but they negotiated them safely and will resume on 0-0 in the morning.

Magoffin made the initial breakthrough as he trapped Paul Horton lbw for 16 with Ashwell Prince and Karl Brown following him back to the pavilion in quick succession.

Prince lasted just six balls before he edged a beauty from Lewis Hatchett to Mike Yardy at second slip while Joyce took a superb catch to remove Brown and give the returning Chris Jordan his only wicket of the day.

Usman Khawaja and Steven Croft set about repairing the damage with a partnership of 62 until Khawaja became the first of Ashar Zaidi’s three victims when he was caught behind for 45 as Lancashire went to lunch on 99-4.

Sussex continued to dominate in the afternoon session as they threatened to bowl Lancashire out for under 200. Magoffin removed the dangerous Jos Buttler soon after the restart when he tempted the England wicketkeeper into hooking a bouncer straight to Zaidi at square leg.

Hatchett was rewarded for some impressive bowling when he produced another fine ball to have Steven Croft caught behind for 49.

Sussex made their only real mistake of the day when Ed Joyce dropped Tom Smith at third slip off Hatchett but it did not cost them as Smith was caught at deep mid-wicket shortly afterwards sweeping at Zaidi.

At that point Lancashire were 148-7 but Chapple and Procter added 44 for the eighth wicket before Chapple finally perished for 28 when he hooked Magoffin to Luke wells at deep square leg.

Simon Kerrigan was Magoffin’s fourth victim when he hooked a bouncer to Luke Wells but only after he had added 68 with Procter.

The tenth wicket partnership between James Anderson and Procter also provided 60 runs to bring Lancashire a third batting point before Anderson was lbw attempting to reverse sweep Zaidi.