Kevin Innes blasted 120 off just 108 balls to boost Sussex 2nd XI on the opening day of their Championship battle against Middlesex at Worthing.

Sussex made 289 after winning the toss and Carl Hopkinson and Mike Yardy claimed two wickets apiece as Middlesex reached 99-4 in reply.

All-rounder Innes compiled 19 fours and three sixes in an entertaining two-and-a-quarter hours at the crease, before smashing a delivery from off spinner Jamie Dalrymple to extra cover where David Holt took a fine catch.

Innes shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 125 with Neil Turk, who had made 42 from 71 balls with seven fours when he was caught at first slip off Aussie paceman Joe Dawes.

Sussex were on course for a score of more than 350 at 234-4 at one stage.

They lost their last five wickets for 55 runs with Australian-born fast bowler Thos Hunt (3-41) mopping up the tail.

Tim Bloomfield took the early wickets of Hopkinson and Bas Zuiderent as Sussex stumbled to 61-3. Bloomfield struck first by bowling Hopkinson for five.

The pace bowler later had Zuiderent caught at point for 21 after Yardy (26) was an lbw victim for Ben Gannon.

Yardy met with success when Middlesex batted and the visitors lost four wickets for the addition of only 21 following an opening stand of 59 between Robin Western and David Alleyne.

Hopkinson had Western caught behind for 28 and Alleyne suffered the same fate to Yardy on 31 before Mali Richards, son of West Indies legend Viv, was bowled by Hopkinson for just a single