Sussex's Norwich Union League campaign got off to the worst possible start at chilly Kidderminster yesterday with a five-wicket defeat against Worcestershire.

The county looked in control of the meeting of two of the sides relegated from Division One last season when they reduced Worcestershire to 73-5 in reply to Sussex's modest 154-9 from 45 overs.

But they couldn't get rid of Graeme Hick and the Worcestershire captain eased his side to their target with 26 balls to spare after an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 82 in 13 overs with the effervescent Steve Rhodes.

Even Hick was initially subdued by a pitch which gave up runs grudgingly and some Sussex tight bowling, but three boundaries in one over off Mark Davis took him to his half-century and he finished unbeaten on 61, victory having been achieved far more comfortably than seemed likely for the bulk of Worcestershire's reply.

Batsmen on both sides were inhibited by a typically slow early-season surface and Sussex were indebted to Bas Zuiderent, whose second competition half-century held their innings together after medium pacer Stuart Lampitt had wrecked the top order.

Brought into the attack in the 11th over, Lampitt bowled Murray Goodwin via in inside edge with his second ball and then took his tally of competition wickets to 200 when he got one to nip back off the seam and knock back Richard Montgomerie's off stump.

After scoring just 134 runs in 12 innings last year, Tony Cottey must have been hoping a new season would bring him a change of fortune. But he fell leg before to Lampitt, padding up to his first ball and, although Will House averted the hat-trick, he soon fell under Lampitt's spell to leave Sussex tottering on 37-4 in the 17th over.

Zuiderent led a fightback in a stand of 55 in 12 overs with Robin Martin-Jenkins who was stumped after making 26 off 31 balls.

Matt Prior was run out but Michael Yardy helped Zuiderent add 44 in nine overs for the eighth wicket. Zuiderent hit five boundaries in his 53 off 108 balls before he was eighth out.

A total of 154-8 looked at least 30 below par, but Sussex's bowlers enjoyed the conditions.

Martin-Jenkins held a smart return catch to remove Anurag Singh in the sixth over and Paul Pollard top-edged a sweep to give off-spinner Davis his first wicket for the county, a tally he later doubled when David Leatherdale clipped a ball which turned sharply.

House's direct hit from mid-wicket removed Vikram Solanki in the 26th over and, when Phil Weston steered Mark Robinson straight to backward point in the next over, Worcestershire were second favourites at 73-5.

But Hick and Rhodes are old hands in this type of situation. By the end Sussex's mood must have matched their new grey kit.

Despite three enterprising declarations, Sussex's opening Championship match against Worcestershire ended in a draw at New Road on Saturday.

Sussex understandably erred on the side of caution when they set Worcestershire 296 to win in 49 overs, but the home side made a decent stab at their target with Phil Weston making an undefeated 78 before the chase was called off with his side 188-4 from 40.1 overs.

Martin-Jenkins was the pick of the attack with 3-50. Prior and Goodwin had provided the county's batting highlights, Prior making a fluent 25 not out on his debut. Both sides picked up six points each.