Sajid Mahmood recorded only his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket to put Lancashire in a healthy position after the first day of their County Championship match against Sussex at Hove yesterday.

The 26-year-old speedster claimed 5-76 from 16.4 overs to reduce the county champions to 253 all out after they had elected to make first use of a flat batting track.

But the former Smithills School pupil then watched Lancashire's top order slump to 67-4 in reply.

"I have done alright against Sussex in the past, and I must enjoy bowling against them," said Mahmood, who notched 5-52 against the same opponents at Liverpool two years ago.

"I don't mind bowling here too, but today the rhythm wasn't really there for me. I could have bowled a lot better than what I did do."

One explanation for 14 wickets falling on the first day was poor shot selection and decision making, culminating in Paul Horton being bowled when shouldering arms for Lancashire's first wicket late in the day.

Chris Nash was the first Sussex man to go when he was run out courtesy of a huge mix-up between himself and Mike Yardy.

Mahmood then bowled Chris Adams and had Murray Goodwin caught flicking to midwicket to leave the score 57-3.

Left-arm spinner Gary Keedy and all-rounder Glen Chapple both picked up a wicket apiece to leave the hosts in disarray at 98-5 just before lunch.

Robin Martin-Jenkins hit 70, while he shared a sixth wicket stand of 88 with Carl Hopkinson (39). But Keedy got got rid of Hopkinson, finishing with 2-54 from 16 overs, while Francois Du Plessis bowled Martin-Jenkins.

That left Mahmood to mop up the tail by snaffling Ollie Rayner, Corey Collymore and Mushtaq Ahmed.

Lancashire then lost Horton and Mal Loye, in consecutive balls, Du Plessis and Lou Vincent (38).