England fast bowler Ollie Robinson took two wickets as Sussex survived a gloomy opening day against Derbyshire in the Vitality County Championship at Derby.
Although not at his best, Robinson took five successive maidens on either side of lunch to take 2 for 48 after the visitors won the toss and sent in Derbyshire. Former Derbyshire all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice took 2 for 52, including the wicket of Luis Reece, who top-scored with a 78-ball 50.
Aneurin Donald hit nine fours in his 46-ball 44, but when rain stopped play shortly after 3:00 PM, Derbyshire were 189 for 8.
Before play began, the teams observed a minute's silence in memory of Worcestershire spinner Josh Baker, who died this week at the age of 20.
Under overcast skies with the floodlights on, it was no surprise that Sussex chose to bowl, although they did not make the most of the conditions at first. Robinson was cut for four by David Lloyd, who bowled a no-ball in his first over but removed the Derbyshire skipper in his next.
Lloyd failed to hit a ball that was too straight to leave and was lbw, but both Robinson and Jayden Seales struggled to maintain a consistent line before the England paceman found his rhythm with three successive maidens.
Reece and Brooke Guest put on 50 for the second wicket before Hudson-Prentice struck a straight one to remove Guest's off stump.
Batting was awkward in the murky light but Sussex were gifted some cheap wickets after Wayne Madsen, on his 600th innings in all formats for Derbyshire, was brilliantly caught behind by John Simpson leg before off Tom Clark.
Simpson then dropped Matt Lamb with the second ball of the innings, but two balls later he played a ball on to Danny Lamb's off stump and was lbw.
Robinson's bowling was still tight after lunch with two more maidens before the spell was broken in spectacular fashion.
Donald cut and drove Robinson for three fours in an over that included one no-ball and cost 17, and the flow of runs continued when Reece sent Hudson-Prentice to the ropes to reach 50 off 77 balls. But Hudson-Prentice responded with another excellent delivery that straightened enough to take Reece's off stump.
Robinson's second wicket came when Anuj Dal played one over the next ball after the umpires agreed to a ball change before Donald's counter-attacking innings ended in disappointing fashion.
Seales began his second spell with a short and wide loosener that Donald flicked into the hands of substitute fielder Oli Carter at cover.
When Zak Chappell was run out in the next over, taking the arm of Tom Haines at mid-on, Derbyshire were 163 for 8, but some uncomplicated hitting from Blair Tickner frustrated Sussex before rain brought an early end.