Matt Prior and Robin Martin-Jenkins ensured Sussex ended day one of their top-of-the-table clash with Lancashire at Hove in a healthy position.

The duo rescued the hosts from a dicey 161-5 with an unbroken stand of 121 to take them to 282-5 at stumps.

Dominic Cork took two wickets in his opening spell and although Michael Yardy made 63, Lancs were on top.

But Prior hit 11 fours in his 69 and Martin-Jenkins stroked a patient 55 to leave the game intriguingly poised.

It was an attritional start in front of a crowd of 2,500 with plenty at stake for both teams.

At this stage if we kept them to 350 then I'd be reasonably happy Lancs skipper Mark Chilton

Lancashire were two bowlers short for most of the final session, with leg-spinner Simon Marshall suffering cramp and Cork having stitches applied to a gash on his left little finger caused when he took a catch to remove Hardy.

Prior and Martin-Jenkins upped the tempo, scoring at more than three an over, and skipper Chris Adams will be happy with their total on a slow, low wicket.

Captain Mark Chilton said of Cork's injury: "There is some confusion as to whether it is fractured, dislocated or neither.

"He will be having X-rays on it. We hope we can patch it up enough so he can still take part in this game.

"We could have bowled them out for 300 if we hadn't been a couple of bowlers down. We will struggle to do that now.

"Matt Prior played well and he didn't really give us a hint of a chance. At this stage if we kept them to 350 I'd be reasonably happy."