Sussex failed to build on Matt Machan’s brilliant century in the face of a Worcestershire fightback on the opening day at Hove.

Machan blasted a career-best 135 from just 100 balls to put Sussex in a position of strength only for them to crash from 161-1 to 345 all out.

Worcestershire then reached the close after what had been an extraordinary day on 45-0, trailing by 300 runs.

Machan was only called into the side due to the absence of Mike Yardy and Chris Nash but grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

He raced to 50 from just 27 balls and moved to his third first class century from a further 43 deliveries – hitting 13 fours and four sixes in the process.

The Scotland international put on 145 for the second wicket with Ed Joyce but when things started to go wrong when the Sussex skipper fell for 49 shortly after lunch.

Craig Cachopa followed for just eight and Machan’s superb knock ended when he lobbed Jack Shantry to mid-wicket.

Ben Brown made 19 and Luke Wright a third consecutive 50 of the season but both departed before tea as Sussex slumped to 300-6.

Sachithra Senanayake removed Ashar Zaidi and Steve Magoffin in successive balls after tea and only an unbeaten 45 from Ajmal Shahzad saw Sussex scramble to 345 all out – missing out on a fourth batting point by five runs.

Daryl Mitchell (18 not out) and Richard Oliver (21 not out) survived the remaining 15 overs without too many problems to complete a remarkable recovery from the visitors.