Tim Linley made a dream start on his Championship debut for Sussex with three wickets on the first morning against Durham at Arundel Castle.

Linley picked up the scalps of Scott Borthwick, Mark Stoneman and Paul Collingwood in the space of 15 balls to give Sussex the edge against the leaders.

Steve Magoffin also struck as Durham reached lunch on 147-4, having been 80-1 at one stage, with Stoneman making 51.

Magoffin made the initial breakthrough by getting one to nip back to beat Keaton Jennings’ defences to justify Ed Joyce’s decision to put Durham in.

Borthwick and Stoneman went on the attack as they added 69 for the second wicket from just 51 balls.

Linley – who joined Sussex on loan from Surrey yesterday – broke the partnership when he had Borthwick caught at second slip by Yardy for 24.

Stoneman brought up his 50 from 42 deliveries but fell two balls later when he edged Linley to Joyce at first slip.

Linley capped a superb spell when Paul Collingwood played no shot to a ball that nipped back a touch to be given lbw for a duck.

Sussex’s hopes of making further inroads, however, were hindered by the early withdrawal of Ajmal Shahzad from the attack.

Shahzad was making his comeback from a pectoral injury which had sidelined him for five weeks but only managed four overs before going off the field.

Sussex used seven bowlers before lunch as a result and that enabled Michael Richardson (31 not out) and Gordon Muchall (19 not out) to steady the ship as they put on an unbroken stand of 51.