Ben Brown made a timely return to form with the bat to get Sussex out of a spot of bother on day one of their Championship clash with Yorkshire at Hove.

The wicketkeeper made his first half century since the end of May to rescue Sussex from 164-7 to 276-9 when bad light stopped play.

Brown made the most of two reprieve’s – dropped on 14 and surviving a missed stumping on 74 – to score an unbeaten 78 as Sussex fought back after being put in to bat.

Trialist Ashar Zaidi also impressed on his debut as he made 17 runs coming in at No.8 before being on the wrong end of a dubious lbw decision.

Sussex’s batting had been horribly exposed at Durham last week and despite the return of Ed Joyce and Matt Prior they once again found themselves in trouble during the morning session.

After making a positive start Luke Wells fell for ten in the sixth over and was followed by Chris Nash as he was dismissed by a snorter from Liam Plunkett having hit 35 off just 46 balls.

Sussex then lost three wickets in the space of 39 balls to slump to 114-5 as Ed Joyce, Mike Yardy and Rory Hamilton-Brown were all bowled.

Joyce was bowled behind his legs by Ryan Sidebottom having made just three while Yardy (29) got an inside edge on to his stumps as he tried to force Plunkett through the covers off his back foot.

Hamilton-Brown, who kept his place in the side despite the availability of Matt Machan, hit Kane Williamson for two sixes in the spinner’s first over before being bowled through the gate by the New Zealand international.

Prior showed glimpses of his ability to reach 23 but then played down the wrong line to a straight ball from Steven Patterson and was bowled.

Zaidi in no way looked out of his depth in his first first class appearance since 2009 and was a little unlucky to be given lbw for 17 from a ball from Sidebottom which looked to be going over the top.

Brown was dropped in the slips on 14 and went on to take advantage by reaching his 50 off 103 balls to guide Sussex to 237-7 at tea.

Steve Magoffin provided good support and the pair added 74 for the eighth wicket before Magoffin became Sidebottom’s third victim having made 25.

James Anyon followed for six but Lewis Hatchett stuck around with Brown to put on 22 before the umpires took the players off for bad light with 20 overs remaining in the day.