Mushtaq Ahmed took his wickets tally to 70 for the season as Sussex bowled out relegated Glamorgan for 255 on the first day of their county championship clash.

Sussex have also began their innings in promising fashion, having reached 130-4 shortly before lunch today.

The former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq, took 5-89 on a slow Hove pitch and was well supported by James Kirtley, whose 4-42 took him past 50 championship wickets in a season for the seventh time in his career.

Sussex, who began the day 30 points behind Division One leaders Nottinghamshire, reached the close on 70-2 with opener Ian Ward unbeaten on 42.

Ward, who missed the previous five championship games with a groin injury, added 51 for the second wicket with Mike Yardy, who was caught at short mid-wicket off spinner Dean Cosker just before stumps.

Richard Montgomerie fell in only the fourth over, being pinned in front by Alex Wharf.

Glamorgan, who won the toss, subsided after being 144-2 at lunch, David Hemp top-scoring with 71 - the 10th time he had passed 50 in the championship this season.

Hemp shared in the highest stand of the innings by adding 86 in 24 overs for the third wicket with Jonathan Hughes (32).

Skipper Robert Croft steered his side past 250 by scoring 35 to bring up 10,000 first-class runs in his career.

Glamorgan made a poor start when Dan Cherry, after twice smiting Kirtley to the extra cover boundary, got an inside edge to the fourth delivery of the day and was bowled.

Mushtaq struck with the first ball of his second over as Blackwood's Ryan Watkins mistimed to get a leading edge and hole out at mid-off.

Hughes was dropped by wicketkeeper Matt Prior on three off Mushtaq, before Hemp went on the attack to twice hoist the spinner over mid-wicket for six.

Mushtaq broke through with the third ball after lunch to bowl Hughes as he attempted to sweep, and Kirtley removed Hemp and Mark Wallace in quick succession as Glamorgan lost half their side for only 162.

Kirtley grabbed his 500th first-class wicket for Sussex when Hemp, after striking eight fours and three sixes in an innings lasting 107 deliveries, played on.

And Wallace got himself out to a rash attempted pull off the former England pace bowler.

The slide continued as Mushtaq had Wharf taken at silly point, and Michael Powell played back to Yardy's third delivery and was lbw.

But skipper Croft displayed some defiance to ensure his side gained a second batting point and dominated an eighth-wicket stand of 40 in 11 overs with Cosker, who became Mushtaq's fourth victim.

Croft, who hoisted Yardy for a huge six and also stroked three fours from 72 balls, was trapped leg before on the back foot by Kirtley, and Mushtaq ended the innings by bowling David Harrison as he pushed forward.