Chapple keeps Lancashire on top

Glen Chapple struck with both the new and old ball to take five wickets © PA Photos Enlarge

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple recorded his 750th first-class wicket for the county on a topsy-turvy opening day of the new season against Sussex at Liverpool today. Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance in this County Championship Division One clash at a sun-drenched Aigburth ground but the hosts will be happier after being invited to field first by Murray Goodwin.

Sussex slumped from 115 for 1 to 243 all out inside 80 overs. While seamer Chapple, 37, finished with 5 for 68 from 23 overs - the 32nd five-wicket haul of his first-class career - Joe Gatting scored a Championship best of 90 and Ed Joyce 84 for the visitors. Tom Smith and Sajid Mahmood also took two wickets each for Lancashire, who closed day one on 32 for 1 from 14 overs.

Despite striking with the ball before close, Sussex will be disappointed to have let such commanding start with the bat on a sporting pitch go to waste. The hosts fought their way back during an entertaining afternoon session which yielded five wickets for 50 runs, including a spell of three for six in 26 balls. Allrounder Smith had a hand in all three wickets that fell quickly.

He trapped Joyce and overseas bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan leg before as well as pouching a catch at second slip to get rid of wicketkeeper Ben Brown off the bowling of Oliver Newby.

Chapple claimed the first three wickets of the day. He had Chris Nash lbw in the seventh over before uprooting Luke Wells' off stump in the fifth after lunch. He also forced Goodwin to slash to Steven Croft at point. Joyce, who faced 166 balls, shared a second wicket partnership of 80 with Wells (35) and Gatting later shared an important stand of 56 for the seventh wicket with Naved Arif to advance the score from 165 for 6.

Joyce stroked the first ball of the day back down the ground for four off Chapple and looked particularly strong in that region and also through the covers. Arif took 37 balls to get off the mark but proved a valuable partner for Gatting during his 122-ball knock, including 11 boundaries.

When Arif departed lbw to Chapple - the landmark wicket - the score was 221 for 7 in the 71st over and Chapple completed his five-for thanks to a super diving catch by Smith at second slip to account for Jimmy Anyon in the 77th. Mahmood wrapped up the innings when he had Gatting caught behind by Gareth Cross off a top edge and Amjad Khan caught at first slip by Paul Horton.

Left-arm quick bowler Arif then bowled Horton for 17 to leave Lancashire at 25 for 1 in the tenth over of their first innings. Stephen Moore and night-watchman Gary Keedy will resume tomorrow.