A five-wicket haul from irrepressible spinner Muttiah Muralitharan kept Lancashire in touch on a keenly fought opening day against rivals Sussex.

Chris Adams opted to bat first on a sunny day at Aigburth and after the early loss of Richard Montgomerie, Chris Nash built a strong platform.

Nash hit 10 fours in his 75, his highest first-class score, but Sussex slipped from 131-1 to 274 all out.

The visitors took the important wicket of Brad Hodge as Lancs closed on 50-2.

Michael Yardy took advantage of being dropped by Stuart Law on 21 to add 97 with Nash after Montgomerie was caught at third slip in the 12th over.

But the left-hander was dismissed by Dominic Cork shortly after lunch, before Murali claimed his first victim when Adams was caught and bowled off bat and pad.

Prolific batsman Murray Goodwin fired an unbeaten 74 but was denied the chance of his fourth century of the campaign as the final six wickets fell for 53.

The wickets of Mal Loye and then fluent Australian Hodge redressed the balance somewhat late on, however.