Stand in skipper Dale Benkenstein won the toss and elected to bat first on day one of Durham’s first home LV= County Championship fixture.
The openers put on 44 before Michael Di Venuto was trapped lbw by James Anyon on 30. Gordon Muchall joined Will Smith and the pair registered a partnership of 129, both registering fifties.
Muchall was the first to pass the landmark, off 76 balls, including eight fours, before he was caught by Amjad Khan at mid off, off the bowling of Anyon for 74.
Smith’s calculated half century came off 106 balls, included six fours and a maximum. He was caught in the slips by Ed Joyce, off Rana Naved for 59, bringing Benkenstein to the middle alongside Ben Stokes.
Monty Panesar picked up two quick wickets before tea, bowling Ben Stokes, after he’s just struck a huge six, on 21. Dale Benkenstein was caught by Chris Nash at short leg the following over for 10 with Durham 220-5.
At tea Durham were 231-5 with Ian Blackwell 9* and Michael Richardson (2*) looking for a repeat performance of last week’s innings. But, it wasn’t to be as the youngster was caught in the slips off Khan for just 2.
Durham passed the 250 mark with Blackwell and Borthwick at the crease but, the former was bowled by Khan in the 74th over.
Panesar picked up his third wicket when he had Thorp trapped lbw for 5. Claydon and Borthwick nudged Durham to 291 but the 21 year old was caught behind off Khan for 35 and his replacement, Ruel Brathwaite, was dismissed the following over when he was trapped lbw off Panesar with the new ball, without scoring.
Durham were all out for 292 in the 81st over.
Mitchell Claydon made an early breakthrough in the third over, Ed Joyce out for 2 after a cracking one handed catch from Gordon Muchall in the slips.
At the close Sussex were 30-1, with Wells (7*) and Nash (19*).