Sussex suffered defeat to the world champions on their big day at Hove.

But Jason Gillespie’s side had their moments before going down by 57 runs to Australia.

Sussex were bowled out for 220 in 42.3 of their 50 overs.

Australia, sent in to bat, set 277-9 after plundering 74 for no loss after the opening ten-over powerplay.

Spinner Danny Briggs (2-42 off ten) did much to peg back their ominous early momentum.

Jofra Archer, after receiving early punishment, returned to take the key wicket of Aaron Finch for 78.

Finch was beaten for pace as he looked to pull and offered a simple catch to wicketkeeper Ben Brown.

That sparked a clatter of four Aussie wickets for 13 runs in 31 balls.

But Marcus Stoinis at the other end stayed on and went on to make 110 before being held by Laurie Evans at the long-off boundary as he looked to hit a low Archer full toss.

Archer finished with 3-62 plus a direct hit run-out of Ashton Agar.

Spinner Luke Wells (2-44 off ten) did a fine job and the Sussex fielding was sharp and slick.

Sussex in reply only scored one run off the first 22 balls – and even then Wells was run out looking to turn back for the second.

Fellow opener Phil Salt was twice dropped on the leg side by D’Arcy Short, both easy chances, as he took ten balls to get off the mark.

But he then raced to 62 off a total of 49 balls, featuring seven fours, four sixes and just 16 scoring shots.

Sussex supporters in a full house of almost 6,000 might just have been dreaming of a famous win when salt, well-supported by Harry Finch (45), was in full flight.

But he fell to a Kane Richardson yorker with the score on 92.

Evans took up the fight with 57 but the chase fizzled out after he was stumped off Ashton Agar, who finished with 3-64.