Sussex skipper Chris Adams is backing his bowlers to lead the county to victory in their Championship opener against Middlesex.

They will resume on 194-9 in their second innings at Lord's today, a lead of 317, after bowling out Middlesex for just 116 and Adams believes that is a winning advantage.

He said: "I think the difference between the sides is that we have been able to exploit our change bowlers better than they did.

"James Kirtley and Jason Lewry bowled really well for us with the new ball but Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mushtaq Ahmed came on and were able to maintain that pressure.

"If we do that again then we have a good chance of winning. Put it this way, I'd rather be in our position than Middlesex's at the moment."

Both Kirtley and Mushtaq, on his Sussex debut, took three wickets before Martin-Jenkins scored only the second half-century of the match to improve the visitors' position later in the day.

Fifteen wickets fell yesterday and Adams admitted that the early season conditions were favouring the bowlers.

"If this was mid-July and the sun was shining it would be a belter but it's April and there is a little bit of moisture about which means it's swinging around," Adams added.

"We've had to battle away with the bat so the 50 which Robin got at the end was very important in the context of the match."

Kirtley nearly claimed a fourth wicket when Chad Keegan played onto his stumps but amazing no bails fell to the ground.

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