Sussex made good use of the new ball to gain a healthy lead in their County Championship clash with Essex at Hove.

Ajmal Shahzad, Ollie Robinson and Danny Briggs each picked up a wicket as Essex were bowled out for 320 having resumed on 252-7.

That gave Sussex a first innings lead of 40 and they stretched that to 51 as Chris Nash and Ed Joyce made it safely through to lunch without any alarm.

Essex skipper ten Doeschate began the day in positive fashion by driving Robinson for consecutive boundaries.

He brought up his half century from 118 balls but fell soon afterwards when Briggs held a stunning catch at first slip to give Robinson his second wicket of the innings.

Graham Napier had added 89 with ten Doeschate for the eighth wicket but followed his captain back to the pavilion when he was trapped lbw by Shahzad for 45.

Briggs wrapped up the innings by dismissing Matt Dixon lbw for one with Sussex reaching lunch on 11-0 from the two overs available.