Ajmal Shahzad and Matt Hobden blew Hampshire’s top order away before tea as Sussex tightened their grip on the opening Championship match of the season.

Shahzad picked up the wickets of Michael Carberry , Will Smith and Jimmy Adams in the space of 11 balls on his Championship debut for Sussex.

Hobden chipped in with the scalps of Liam Dawson and Adam Wheather as Hampshire crashed from 47-0 to 63-5 at tea in reply to Sussex’s first innings total of 444.

Shahzad made the breakthrough when he trapped Carberry lbw for 25 with Dawson falling to Hobden in similar fashion next ball for 22.

Smith lasted three balls before he edged Shahzad low to Mike Yardy at second slip for a duck with Wheater surviving eight balls before he was caught at gully by Ed Joyce fending at a delivery from Hobden.

A golden spell which saw Hampshire lose five wickets in the space of 23 balls was completed when Adams was caught behind off Shahzad for four.

Earlier, Ben Brown made and unbeaten 144 to help Sussex take their overnight score from 300-6 to 444 all out. Shahzad gave him good support with 35 while Steve Magoffin added 41.