Sussex were unable to force home their early advantage as Middlesex fought back strongly on the opening day of their top of the table clash at Hove.

Sussex had Middlesex in trouble on 76-4 after Ed Joyce had won the toss and elected to put the visitors in on a bowler-friendly pitch.

The loss of Ajmal Shahzad through injury and some sloppy bowling allowed Middlesex to wriggle off the hook, however, as they recovered from 174-7 to set a total of 269.

Chris Nash, Matt Machan and Mike Yardy all then perished in the 16 overs remaining in the day as Sussex struggled to 66-3.

The day had started so well for Sussex with the bowlers justifying Joyce’s decision to put Middlesex in.

Steve Magoffin made the initial breakthrough when he had Sam Robson caught behind driving loosely for eight.

Nick Gubbins followed seven balls later for a duck when he hooked Shahzad to Matt Hobden on the fine leg boundary.

Adam Voges and Nick Compton steadied the ship for Middlesex with a partnership of 59 for the third wicket before another couple of quick wickets swung the morning session in Sussex’s favour.

Voges fell in indentical fashion to Gubbins as he top edged a pull off the impressive Ollie Robinson to Hobden at deep fine leg having made 38.

James Franklin lasted 11 balls until he edged Shahzad to Yardy – back in the team following illness – at second slip for a duck.

Robinson ended Nick Compton’s patient 102-ball innings on 30 when he had him superbly caught by Yardy at second slip after lunch.

Sussex scented blood at that stage but their hopes of rolling Middlesex out for under 200 were compromised when Shahzad suffered a shoulder injury while bowling and had to leave the field.

The remaining three seamers – Magoffin, Robinson and Hobden – started to tire as a result, something that was highlighted by a tally of 62 extras.

Magoffin did remove John Simpson and Neil Dexter in quick succession to reduce Middlesex to 174-7 but Toby Roland-Jones hit 34 and Steven Finn an unbeaten 21 to frustrate them after tea.

Robinson eventually had Roland-Jones caught in the deep to finish with impressive figures of 4-46 from 20.5 overs.

Nash made an aggressive start to Sussex’s reply but the tactic got the better of him when he got an inside edge off James Harris onto his stumps having made 23.

Machan then edged Finn to second slip for 13 before Yardy was trapped lbw by Roland-Jones having made nine.