Corey Collymore took two wickets in nine balls on his Sussex return before Lancashire took control on the second day of the Championship match at Hove.
The 31-year-old from Barbados reduced Lancashire to 2-2 after removing openers Paul Horton and Tom Smith either side of lunch.
Francois du Plessis (6) and Ashwell Prince (56) fell to Robin Martin-Jenkins and Luke Wright respectively before tea to leave Lancashire struggling on 102-4.
But the visitors fought back in the final session thanks to an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 107 between Mark Chilton (72 not out) and Steven Croft (59 not out).
Sussex may regret dropping Croft who was reprieved on 22 by Luke Wright at second slip off the luckless Damien Wright.
Earlier Sussex had been dismissed for 289 after losing their last five wickets for 42 in 22 overs of a hard morning session.
James Anderson picked up three of them to finish with 6-56 while skipper Glen Chapple finished with 4-69.
Full report and reaction in tomorrow's Argus
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