A man-of-the-match display from new skipper Mike Yardy could not prevent Sussex from defeat in their opening pre-season game yesterday.

Yardy took three wickets and then top scored with 82 as Sussex went down by 46 runs against Lancashire in their opening game of the Emirates Pro Arch Trophy tournament in Dubai.

Having allowed Lancashire to post an impressive 50-over total of 298 all out in the intense heat of the day, Sussex lost three wickets in the space of 11 overs under the lights and were bowled out for 252.

Yardy said: “It’s always disappointing to lose but you have to stay realistic because it is still pre-season and we’ve taken on a very competitive Lancashire side with a young side and came up 40-odd short.

“It was a proper game of cricket and there were some good signs, including a quick 30-odd from Tom Smith at the end there and I was really happy with the way I batted. The way things are going I think I’ll end up batting No.5 for us in one-day cricket this season.”

Winter recruit Ed Joyce made a dismal start to his Sussex career by edging the 15th ball of his stay to keeper Luke Sutton to give Kyle Hogg the first of two wickets.

Luckless Chris Nash was then run out when backing up after Glen Chapple, following through, finger-tipped the ball onto the non-striker’s stumps then Rory Hamilton-Brown, having just hit a six, was also caught behind for 11.

Left-arm spinner Stephen Parry bagged the next three wickets to fall, bowling Carl Hopkinson (46) and Andrew Hodd (15) and then ending Yardy’s 84 ball stay for 82 when the left hander missed a paddle sweep to go leg before.

The Sussex tail crumbled away thereafter as Hogg and Tom Smith returned to bowl tight second spells.

Commenting on the benign Abu Dhabi pitch, Yardy added: “We’ve been here before and it does take spin and it was hard work for our young seamers, there’s no margin for error and a quick outfield.

“It’s no coincidence that Robin Martin-Jenkins was our most experienced seamer playing today and he returned by far the best and most economical figures.”

Lancashire’s total had been built around a career-best 122 at virtually a run-a-ball from 26-year-old right-hander Paul Horton. Australian-born but schooled and raised in Liverpool Horton showed great stamina, hitting 14 fours in a three-hour innings played in temperatures approaching 90 degrees. He enjoyed an 11-run, third-wicket stand with Mark Chilton (59) inside 21 overs, before Horton, a muscular right-hander, became one of Yardy’s 3-59 haul to a catch in the deep.

On a wicket more conducive to spin than pace, Tom Smith impressed with 3-52 while Robin Martin-Jenkins bowled a good length and tight lines to deserve his 3-43 return.