RELEGATED Worcestershire failed to shine on the first day of their final LV County Championship Division One game of the season.

Defending champions Sussex gave leaders Lancashire plenty to think about by making a fine start in their must-win clash at Hove.

The second-placed hosts closed strongly on 287-4 after choosing to bat at Hove with Richard Montgomerie (82) and Chris Nash (89) compiling an opening stand of 155 in 40 overs.

Sussex's biggest partnership for the first wicket for four years was followed by Mike Yardy (52) and skipper Chris Adams (32no) consolidating their position before bad light ended play with seven overs remaining.

The home side made good use of batting first on a firm wicket, despite tricky overcast conditions at times, and Worcestershire were made to work hard for their wickets.

Sussex's previous highest opening stand was 121 and Montgomerie fell in the seventh over after lunch, 18 runs short of his third century of the season.

Opening bowler Nadeem Malik made the breakthrough by having Montgomerie caught at the wicket push-driving at one outside off-stump.

Montgomerie had struck 14 fours in his 130-ball vigil and Nash before Mike Yardy added 52 in 17 overs for the second wicket. Nash, who has passed 50 seven times without hitting a century, departed 11 short of his goal.

Wicketkeeper Steven Davies held a straightforward catch as the batsman followed a swinging delivery from Kabir Ali.

Nash, 24, had looked in good nick with his three hour and 40 minute innings containing 14 fours and he hoisted the game's first six in the seventh over by lifting Kabir over the square-leg fence.

Yardy, returning to the side following illness, batted steadily to help the hosts reach a second batting bonus point shortly after tea.

His half-century arrived from 92 balls with eight fours but, on 52, he pulled a delivery from medium-pacer Daryl Mitchell to square leg.

Carl Hopkinson was unable to make an impression after being drafted into the side in place of Murray Goodwin who returned to Australia early for a family funeral.

Having made seven, Hopkinson fell to a good low catch at mid-on to give pace bowler Richard Jones his first championship wicket.

Captain Adams, feeling the discomfort of a finger injury which required five stitches last weekend, batted with restraint to build on his side's solid platform.

He faced 27 overs before recording his first boundary, a steer cut, at the expense of Jones.