Jason Lewry found it hard going on his first day as Sussex captain at Hove yesterday.

He lost the toss and condemned his bowlers to a hard day's labour on a flat, slow pitch against New Zealand A.

Lewry made the breakthrough in the 11th over, but Sussex had to toil away for another 82 overs before they enjoyed their next success as opener Mark Richardson guided his side to 238-2 from 111 overs with the first century of the tour.

The 29-year-old left-hander from Otago gave a lesson in building an innings, batting for six-and-a-half hours before reaching his ninth first-class century off 270 balls with nine boundaries, most of then driven off the front foot with precision and timing.

Lewry removed James Marshall for seven with a toe-crunching yorker which pinned the batsman in front of all three stumps, but Richardson and Jarrod Englefield made the most of perfect batting conditions in a third-wicket stand of 166.

The scoring rate never got much above two runs an over all day and the Sussex attack deserve every credit for their disciplined approach, on a pitch which gave them little margin for error, and energetic fielding.

Michael Yardy bustled in to bowl two lively spells on his first-class debut and Robin Martin-Jenkins, returning after injury, had a good workout ahead of sterner tests next week at the Oval and Edgbaston.

There was plenty of action for the spinners as well and although Justin Bates and Umer Rashid both turned the ball regularly on a bare surface, the Kiwi batsmen played them without too much discomfort.

In fact Sussex must have despaired at ever getting a second wicket when Martin-Jenkins finally removed Englefield for 90 in the 93rd over.

The 20-year-old from Canterbury was leg before on the front foot with a ball which didn't seem to bounce too much and there was no disguising his frustration as he trooped back to the pavilion.

While Richardson often settled for long periods of quiet defence, Englefield played some well-timed attacking shots including a pulled six off Bates.

His 259-ball innings also contained 12 boundaries.

Lewry deployed his resources well and was never short of an encouraging word from his station at mid-on.

But he needs quick wickets today so his batsmen can start to enjoy themselves.

Sussex are throwing open the gates and offering free admission for the rest of the game.