Skipper Chris Adams held Sussex's top order together on the opening morning of the Championship match against Kent at Hove today.

Adams looked in good form with several well-timed off side boundaries, but Kent will feel their decision to bowl first was vindicated after they took three wickets in the first 21 overs, two of them to new signing Alamgir Sheriyar.

The former England A left-armer, who joined the county from Worcestershire during the winter, removed Richard Montgomerie with his fifth ball before ending a third wicket stand of 41 by having Tony Cottey caught in the gully.

Overcast conditions and a greenish looking pitch encouraged seam and swing early on, but there was plenty of loose stuff from the Kent bowlers as well as Sussex scored at four runs an over.

Kent broke through in the fifth over when Murray Goodwin played on to Martin Saggers as he tried to force him through the covers off the back foot.

Saggers was replaced by Sheriyar in the ninth over and he struck straight away when Montgomerie, who had played confidentally for his 22, was bowled offering no shot to a ball which must have swung in late.

Sussex had the 50 up in the 12th over as Adams punished anything off line outside off stump with a succession of handsome drives.

But he was forced into another rebuilding job in the 21st over when Cottey was also beaten by Sheriyar's late outswing, the edge comfortably taken at gully by Mark Ealham.

Lunch: Sussex 129 for 3 (Adams 49 not out)