Putting a world-class operator like Mushtaq Ahmed up against batsmen who have not encountered much quality leg spin is a bit like letting a fox loose in the hen house.

This is Durham's first encounter with Sussex's magic man. The counties have not met in the Championship since 2001 - two years before Mushtaq arrived - and they were predictably bemused and bamboozled by him at the Riverside yesterday.

Mushtaq took 5-25 as Durham were dismissed for just 110 after winning the toss.

When bad light ended play 5.4 overs early Sussex had overtaken their hosts for the loss of openers Richard Montgomerie and Carl Hopkinson and will resume today on 119-2 and in a great position to force the win which would consolidate top spot in division one.

It goes without saying that there was another excellent contribution from Rana Naved as well. He topped and tailed Durham to finish with 4-28 and has now taken 28 wickets in just four games this season, one more than his compatriot.

Durham captain Dale Benkenstein's decision to bat was probably based on the fact his side have twice picked up maximum batting points already this season. But they had no answer to either Rana or Mushtaq after the start was delayed for an hour as groundstaff mopped up an outfield which had been under water on Monday.

Mushtaq was hit for two fours each by wicketkeeper Phil Mustard and Steve Harmison but he was otherwise a complete mystery to the Durham batsmen as he snared his first four victims with googlies.

He found the edge when left-handers Gary Pratt and Mustard pushed forward, while Benkenstein and Gareth Breese were leg before and Harmison bowled attempting to drive.

Openers Jon Lewis and Australian Jimmy Maher had looked reasonably comfortable until the ball went out of shape and was changed in the fifth over.

Lewis played back to the next delivery and was adjudged lbw to Rana and in his next over Gordon Muchall looked surprised to be given out caught behind.

Luke Wright, who kept his place in an unchanged team at the expense of James Kirtley, produced an excellent ball, leaving left-hander Maher off the pitch to have him caught behind for a top score of 23.

Rana returned and had Ottis Gibson caught behind then wrapped up the innings when a slower ball accounted for Graham Onions.

Mushtaq and Rana have now taken 55 Championship wickets between and Rana's tally in just 13 games since he joined the county last July is a staggering 82.

Chris Adams would also have batted had he won the toss and although Harmison, who is working his way back to full fitness after his early return from England duty, got some assistance from the pitch, batting looked much easier when Sussex replied.

Hopkinson was leg before to Gibson and Montgomerie fell to a top-edged pull off a long hop from Mick Lewis but Mike Yardy and Murray Goodwin put on an unbroken partnership of 52 before the light worsened.