WORCESTERSHIRE'S bowlers toiled as the Sussex batsmen made hay in the New Road sunshine, racking up 360-4 on the opening day of the two sides' LV County Championship Division One meeting.

Murray Goodwin led the way for the visitors with a superb 112 and was well supported by half-centuries from skipper Chris Adams and opener Carl Hopkinson.

For the fifth championship game running, Vikram Solanki lost the toss and his opposite number Adams decided to have first use of the flat Worcestershire wicket.

The hosts started brightly with Kabir Ali and Nadeem Malik taking a wicket apiece - courtesy of catches from wicketkeeper Steven Davies - as Sussex faltered to 71-2.

Kabir struck first, luring in-form opener Richard Montgomerie into snicking to the 'keeper for just five, before Malik accounted for Chris Nash (16) in the same fashion.

From then on, the day belonged firmly to the defending champions. Hopkinson batted impressively in making 83 but missed out on a maiden century when he let himself down with an awful shot.

The opener, who put on 119 with Goodwin, slashed wildly at a rank wide offering from Malik and edged it to Davies, who took a fine diving catch.

Adams strode to the middle in determined fashion to join Goodwin and the experienced duo looked to up the pedestrian scoring rate.

They did this, adding 115 in 25 overs before Kabir returned to account for Goodwin.

The right-armer aimed a drive at the England paceman, but was undone by a lack of foot movement as he was trapped on the back foot.

Adams ended the day unbeaten on 90, accompanied by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd (24no), who is playing in place of England's Matt Prior.