TOBY Peirce repaid the faith shown in him by his captain and coach to launch Sussex's season in style against Lancashire yesterday.

Peter Moores and Chris Adams chose the left-hander ahead of Wasim Khan to open the innings with Richard Montgomerie and their hunch that Peirce would get a score in difficult batting conditions at Old Trafford proved spot on.

Peirce will never be an attacking strokemaker in the mould of his captain, but he sells his wicket dearly and his 77, made off 204 balls in just under four-and-a-half hours, was just what Sussex needed after Adams won the toss.

His first wicket stand with Montgomerie, who marked his debut with only his second half-century since the 1997 season, was worth 136, the second highest by the county since June 1997, and it helped Sussex reach 285-5 at the end of the second day.

All the batsmen who followed got a start, but only Tony Cottey, the fourth debutant in the side, really capitalised on the platform provided by the openers, making 46 before he was bowled by a full toss from Mike Watkinson three overs before stumps.

Batting was never easy. Peter Martin, who took 5-30 when the sides met here in the NatWest Trophy last June, swung it consistently early on and young leg spinner Chris Schofield turned the ball regularly, getting his reward when he trapped Michael Di Venuto in front as he tried to punch a ball through mid wicket which spun sharply out of the rough.

Di Venuto's 31 included the shot of the day, a huge straight six off Schofield which landed 15 rows back in the seats behind the sight-screen, but he was also dropped at mid-wicket when he tried to pull Schofield through square.

John Crawley, captaining Lancashire for the first time, must have despaired at getting a breakthrough on a typically easy-paced, early season pitch when Montgomerie pushed forward at a ball from Glen Chapple which moved off the seam after a grafting 62, including eight boundaries.

Adams was quickly into his stride, getting off the mark with a straight six off Schofield with his third ball of the season.

Anything loose got the full treatment and he was looking in ominously good form, timing his shots impeccably, when he unwisely chased a ball outside off stump without really moving his feet and gave Mike Smethurst, a 6ft 5in paceman from Oldham, his first Championship wicket.

At the other end, Peirce battled on, mixing watchful defence with the occasional attacking flourish. He had struck eight fours when Martin got deserved reward for a lively spell after tea, drawing him forward and finding the edge with a ball which moved sharply off the pitch.

Sussex were in a strong position by the close but a lot depends on the weather if they are able to press home their advantage.

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