Madsen is in good company as he finishes on 173 not out

WAYNE Madsen became only the third Derbyshire batsmen to score three consecutive hundreds against the same county as his side enjoyed a good first day against Sussex in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Hove. Sussex, seeking their first Championship win since April 2021, had the better of the morning session when they reduced Derbyshire to 83 for four but Madsen hit back in style for the visitors.

The 38-year-old did not offer a chance on an easy-paced pitch as he progressed serenely to his 34th first-class century for the county, second only to Leek’s Kim Barnett’s tally of 53.

By the close Madsen was 171 not out – the highest score by a Derbyshire batsman in Sussex – as they closed on 336 for five from 97 overs.

Derbyshire elected to bat first but lost captain Billy Godleman and Brooke Guest during a lively opening spell by left-armer Sean Hunt.

Godleman offered a low catch to slip after Hunt found some late away movement while Guest lost his middle stump off a big inside edge attempting an expansive drive.

At the other end, Shan Masood became the first player to lodge 1,000 first-class runs this season when he reached nine and the prolific Pakistan batsman looked in the mood to make another big contribution, especially when he was badly dropped by wicketkeeper Oli Carter on 43 in Tom Haines’ first over.

Fortunately for Sussex it did not prove an expensive miss.

Masood had added three more runs when he was pinned on his crease during an excellent spell down the slope by Steve Finn, who was making his first Championship appearance since the meeting at Derby in April.

In his 12th innings Masood did become the quickest Derbyshire batsman to reach 1,000, beating the previous record by Peter Kirsten of 16 in 1980.