Sussex made a disappointing start to life in Division One when they were beaten by an innings and 55 runs in their Championship opener against Lancashire at Liverpool today.

The county lost six wickets in just 35 balls on the final afternoon and were dismissed for 174, having resumed on 151-3 after the morning session was lost to rain.

Joe Gatting was first to go for 28 in the second over when he was caught behind to give Glen Chapple the first of four wickets.

Chapple also picked up Ben Brown and James Anyon for ducks before ending the innings when he removed last man Monty Panesar (5).

Chapple finished with 4-49 while left-arm spinner Gary Keedy exploited a turning pitch to take 5-41 including two wickets in successive balls today when he removed Rana Naved (10) and Naveed Arif (0).

Sussex coach Mark Robinson admitted his side had been outplayed.

He said: "There was no lack of preparation or desire and no one gets out deliberately. But there were parts in the game when we had chances and couldn’t take them."