Sussex’s batting woes continued as they lost four wickets on the opening morning of their County Championship match against Hampshire at Hove.

Gareth Berg claimed three scalps as Sussex slipped from 47-0 to 125-4 at lunch after skipper Ed Joyce had won the toss and elected to bat.

Mike Yardy and Luke Wells helped Sussex get off to an encouraging start before the introduction of Berg to the Hampshire attack prompted another top order collapse.

Berg dismissed Wells for 17 with only his fourth ball down the hill and followed it up by removing Yardy for 41 and Joyce for nine – all to catches in the slips.

Jackson Bird overcame a poor start with the ball on his Championship debut Hampshire to trap Matt Machan lbw for 13 with a ball which kept low.

Luke Wright (20 not out) and Chris Nash (14 not out) ensured there was no further damage on a pitch already showing signs of variable bounce.