Sussex 140 for 5 (Wells 73*, Patel 3-20) trail Warwickshire 180 (Robinson 6-33) by 40 runs
Scorecard
Oliver Robinson recorded career-best first-class figures as his impressive start to life with Sussex continued but it needed an equally commendable contribution from team-mate Luke Wells to keep the home side in a promising position against Warwickshire at Hove.
Wells passed 50 for the first time this season as the hosts reached 140 for 5 by the close, 40 runs behind. His undefeated 73 at the top of the innings was invaluable on a day when no other batsman got past 35.
Warwickshire had earlier been bowled out for 180 after choosing to bat first with Robinson taking the first six wickets to fall. The former Yorkshire seamer had five by lunch - all taken in the space of 46 balls delivered up the slope from the Sea End - after Warwickshire had reached 35 without loss.
Robinson removed openers Ian Westwood, caught by Steve Magoffin running in from fine leg, and Varun Chopra, held at second slip by Chris Jordan, in the same over.
Ateeq Javid was picked up by Ben Brown at the wicket for 2 before Robinson took two more wickets with successive balls. He produced a beauty which left Laurie Evans, who edged to Brown, and then trapped former Sussex favourite Tim Ambrose right in front with his very next ball, achieving his maiden first-class five-wicket haul in the process.
Robinson added the scalp of Rikki Clarke soon after lunch before Jordan removed former England colleague Jonathan Trott, who played on attempting to pull. Trott made 35 and looked back ruefully at the pitch as he departed.
There were suggestions of variable bounce and Warwickshire were not helped by the cloud which came over after they won the toss in bright, warm sunshine. Keith Barker and Jeetan Patel added a useful 59 for the eighth wicket and a healthy supply of extras helped them towards their total of 180. But batting was never easy and Magoffin tied up the tail by taking the last three wickets, helped by Craig Cachopa's fine catch low down at point to remove Barker.
Like Warwickshire, Sussex got off to a solid start with 46 on the board when Chris Nash edged the lively Clarke to Chopra at first slip for 17.
Sussex still looked comfortable at 115-3 but then lost three wickets for 14. After 77 overs of seam, spinner Patel came on and claimed 3 for 20, including the stumping of Luke Wright for nought as he danced down the pitch. But Wells stood firm as wickets tumbled around him.
