Delray Rawlins’s Sussex fell behind on first innings after Lancashire’s batsmen dominated the second day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match between at Emirates Old Trafford yesterday.

The visitors resumed their first innings at 291 for nine with overnight batsmen Stuart Meaker and debutant Sean Hunt keen to push the score along.

They hung around for another 4.4 overs to carry Sussex past the 300 mark before last man Hunt was dismissed leg-before to bring the innings to a close.

Lancashire suffered an early setback in reply to Sussex’s 301 as they slipped to 41 for three.

However, a fourth-wicket stand of 91 between wicketkeeper Alex Davies and Dane Vilas, the captain, steadied the ship and laid the foundation for the run feast to come.

Opening batsman Davies was dismissed for 61 after lunch but Sussex’s joy was short-lived as Vilas added a further 125 for the fifth wicket with Rob Jones (58) to keep the hosts firmly in control.

Vilas brought up his century off 136 balls after tea and added 82 runs with Luke Wood after Jones departed as Lancashire reached stumps without further damage at 339 for five, 38 runs ahead.

Vilas is unbeaten on 158 and Wood 27.

Sussex used six bowlers with Bermuda all-rounder Rawlins bowling nine wicketless overs of slow left-arm that cost 38 runs.

Ollie Robinson was the most successful among the Sussex bowlers, claiming two wickets with the new ball before Davies and Vilas brought the early slide to a halt.

Play resumes today.