Carl Hopkinson claimed the important wicket of Neil Stovold for 61 as Gloucestershire reached 115-3 on winning the toss against Sussex in the 2nd XI Championship match at Hove.

Paul Hutchison gave Sussex a fine start by removing Stephen Pope for a duck with only five on the board after rain held up the start until 4.15pm.

Stovold and Alex Gidman then put on 85 for the second wicket ebfore trialist Greg Lambert, who played for Yorkshire Seconds last season, had Gidman caught in the gully for 28.

Hopkinson conceded only five runs from five overs and broke through shortly before stumps as Stovold edged a catch to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.

Stovold, son of former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper/batsman Andy Stovold, had batted smoothly and compiled ten boundaries from 98 deliveries.

Sussex, chasing their first win of the season, called up Hodd with Matthew Prior not selected and his confidence was boosted early on when Pope edged him a catch off Hutchison.

The weather restricted the first day to 36 overs and former Yorkshire seamer Hutchison finished with 1-26 in ten overs while Lambert's six overs brought him 1-31.