WORCESTERSHIRE’S bowlers failed to make an impact as Sussex dominated the first day of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at Hove.

Luke Wells hit with a second successive century as Sussex reached an imposing 339-3 at the close.

Skipper Joe Leach (1-70), Josh Tongue (1-56) and Ed Barnard (1-61) were the only wicket-takers for high-flying Worcestershire.

The County, who have won their first four games, used eight bowlers after putting Sussex into bat.

However, Wells led a spirited response by a Sussex side still coming to terms with Luke Wright’s decision to step down as captain on Wednesday and who have lost three of their four matches so far.

The left-hander followed up his career-best 258 at Hove a fortnight ago with an unbeaten 139 while Harry Finch (82) and Stiaan van Zyl (54) gave him excellent support.

Worcestershire left out batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who has verbally accepted a deal to join Division One Yorkshire next season, and recalled Ross Whiteley.

The County bowled tidily enough but Finch blunted their efforts to make early inroads by compiling his highest Championship score before Wells and van Zyl took full toll of a tiring attack later in the day.

Wright’s replacement Chris Nash has struggled this season but looked to have found some form as he helped Finch negate the new ball threat before tamely picking out mid-wicket when he mis-timed a pull to Nathan Lyon off Leach on 22.

But that was Worcestershire’s only success before lunch as Finch and Wells, cautiously at first before picking up the pace in the afternoon, added 125 in 35 overs for the second wicket.

Finch’s 50 came off 90 balls and it was a surprise when Tongue drew him forward at the start of a new spell and found the edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip.

But as the ball softened with little swing or deviation off the seam, Wells and van Zyl settled in to put on 137 in 37 overs either side of tea.

Wells took two off Lyon to reach the 15th hundred of his career and once past the landmark he went on the offensive.

One short-armed jab from a respectable Leach delivery outside off stump that whistled first-bounce to the mid-wicket boundary was the shot of a player in form.

South African van Zyl looked assured until he was bowled off an inside edge by Barnard just after Worcestershire had taken the new ball.

Wright pulled Barnard for six to get off the mark and hit a further four boundaries in an unbeaten 27 while Wells has so far faced 255 balls and hit 20 fours.