Anyon and Panesar give Sussex the edge

Sussex 16 for 0 v Worcestershire 290
Scorecard

Worcestershire squandered a decent position on the first day of their County Championship match at Sussex despite a debut half-century from teenager Aneesh Kapil.

The 18-year-old from Wolverhampton made an attractive 54 in his first four-day game while skipper Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali also made half-centuries.

When Kapil and Dutchman Alex Kervezee were adding 88 for the fifth wicket either side of tea to take their side to 244 for 4, Sussex's decision to bowl first looked a mistake. But the tide turned when Kervezee chanced his arm looking for a third run which would have taken him to 50 and was run out by Joe Gatting's accurate return running round from third man.

Worcestershire collapsed, losing their last six wickets for 56 runs and were bowled out for 290. That left Sussex six overs to negotiate before stumps and Ed Joyce and Gatting, promoted to open in the absence of Chris Nash who is with England Lions, survived comfortably to close on 16 for none.

Sussex had been hoping to exploit any early dampness in the wicket and the immediate signs were good. Matt Pardoe feathered a catch behind when James Anyon seamed one away in his first over and then Vikram Solanki was beaten for pace and bowled for a duck by Anyon to leave Worcestershire six for two.

Mitchell and Moeen rebuilt in an excellent stand of 143 in 43 overs. Moeen was particularly productive through the covers while his more pragmatic partner accumulated steadily to blunt a Sussex side who used six bowlers before lunch in search of another breakthrough.

It finally came thanks to Monty Panesar, who bowled another long, probing spell which was rewarded with three wickets. Mitchell (66) was leg before aiming towards mid-wicket and then Moeen (71) was surprised by a ball which spun back into him and gave a catch to wicketkeeper Ben Brown.

Kapil showed few nerves, top-edging a six when Anyon tried to test him against the short ball, and he reached his 50 with his fifth four. A pull off Kirk Wernars brought him a sixth boundary but he perished to a gully catch off the next ball and was sixth out.

Sussex then encountered little resistance from the tail. Panesar returned and immediately had Gareth Andrew well taken by the diving Mike Yardy at slip.

Anyon finished with four for 71 after picking up two wickets with the second new ball while Wayne Parnell had Saeed Ajmal well caught at third slip off a flat-footed waft outside off stump.