Sussex's new overseas player Mushtaq Ahmed warmed up for next week's Championship opener by destroying Cardiff UCCE on the first day of the friendly at Hove.

The Pakistani leg spinner took 6-20 as the students were bowled out for 116 shortly after lunch.

Richard Montgomerie and Tony Cottey then hit centuries to take Sussex to a commanding 284-2 in reply at stumps.

Now Sussex supporters will be hoping that Mushtaq's performance is a taste of things to come.

A good-sized crowd watched the entertainment in warm sunshine and Director of Cricket Peter Moores was delighted with Mushtaq's contribution.

He said: "It was classical Mushy really. In his first spell he took 3-6 in 7.4 overs which showed the sort of stranglehold he put on them and which forced them to make mistakes, his control applied pressure for us.

"The crowd loved it. They haven't seen a leg spinner bowling for Sussex for a while and you could tell they enjoyed it."

Mushtaq brought the students' innings to an end 35 minutes after lunch by claiming the last five wickets, striking first by having Rhodri Lloyd caught at cover for 33.

Robin Martin-Jenkins swooped to hold a return catch to send back skipper Chris Yates for only two and the visitors were reduced to 89-7 at the interval after Mushtaq ripped out Ryan Bradshaw and Steve Edmonds in quick succession.

Bradshaw was pinned leg before and then Edmonds inexplicably danced down the wicket attempting a big hit and was easily stumped by Matt Prior.

Mushtaq struck again in the fourth over after the interval when James Tomlinson pushed him to Montgomerie at short leg and Tom Green followed leg before next ball.

Last wicket pair Ed Brown and Tanuj Sud added 23 before Sud fell to another catch by Montgomerie at short leg.

Jason Lewry had made the early inroads with a new ball burst which suggested the left-armer has put his troubles of last season firmly behind him.

He removed Keith Bell and Alex French with only 14 on the board before Lloyd, who faced 62 balls, went on to provide the most resistance as he shared in the biggest stand with 49 added for the third wicket with James Cook.

It wasn't such a good day for the county's other overseas star Murray Goodwin who was bowled by Tomlinson off the first ball of the Sussex reply.

But Montgomerie and Cottey made the students suffer by compiling a stand of 215 in 42 overs with Cottey racing to his century off 120 balls with 16 fours and two sixes.

Montgomerie's century soon followed when he drove Edmonds for his 18th boundary, having faced 148 deliveries.

Skipper Chris Adams was quickly into his stride and had reached 38, with five fours and two sixes, at stumps, adding an unbroken 69 with Montgomerie for the third wicket on a re-laid pitch being used for the first time.