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Youngster Tom Clark scored his career-best 82 not out in a brilliant opening day for Sussex.

Clark’s runs helped the home side to finish the day on 302-6 against Nottinghamshire cricket and are inn a commanding position after day one.

The 20-year-old was helped by his teammates with Ali Orr scoring 68 and captain Tom Haines continued his fine form scoring 59 on his first game since taking the captaincy.

Orr has now passed 50 six times in just 15 innings; not a bad feat for a 21-year-old.

Nottingham were seen as favourites to win division two before the start of play but Sussex’s youngsters produced a gritting performance to put Ian Salisbury’s side in a position that they would have aimed for after Notts won the toss and put them in to bat.

Delray Rawlins also batted brilliantly, supporting Tom Clark with some aggressive batting, scoring 49 off 75 balls before he was bowled by Steven Melaney, one run short of his half century.

Liam Patterson-White was the pick of the bowlers taking 5-84 with an economy of 1.85 and was the main reason Sussex didn’t completely run away with the game.

The first day performance was even more impressive from the home side as they were without a number of crucial squad members for this game; George Garton (long COVID), Jack Carson (knee), Cheteshwar Pujara (Visa issues), Fynn Hudson-Prentice (stress fracture).

Sussex will be hoping to kick on tomorrow morning and push up closer to 400, with Clark hoping to reach his maiden first-class century.