SUSSEX captain Ed Joyce hit a superb 130 as the visitors shaded an eventful opening day of the LV= County Championship match at Scarborough today by closing on 315-8 from 95.2 overs.

Joyce recorded his fifth four-day century of the season as Yorkshire failed to get the success they would have hoped for after winning the toss, although they did hit back well late on.

The Ireland international, who fell lbw to Adil Rashid in the last over of the day, shared a third-wicket stand of 124 inside 44 overs with Craig Cachopa (53) and 68 inside 21 for the fourth with Luke Wright.

Although Jack Brooks led the late recovery with his 50th and 51st Championship wickets of the season with the second new ball, Yorkshire will rue a costly drop by Adam Lyth at second slip with Cachopa on five before lunch.

Had Cachopa, facing Brooks, been taken by Lyth, Sussex would have been 55-3 in the 15th over and in a spot of bother having been inserted.

Instead they were allowed to build a challenging total which should have been more from a position of strength at 237-3 in the 75th.

They lost five for 78 as Brooks, Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Patterson all finished with two wickets on a decent pitch for batting.