ON the day Sussex's champion bowler Mushtaq Ahmed announced his retirement, their most consistent batsman of recent times, Murray Goodwin, produced the goods to frustrate second-placed Notts.

Former Zimbabwe star Goodwin struck a painstaking 79 from 164 balls as the LV County Championship defending champions closed the opening day at Hove well placed on 292-5.

The 35-year-old passed 1,000 runs for the season for the seventh time in eight seasons when reaching 40, and he now boasts 18,076 runs in first-class cricket.

Goodwin shared in a valuable fifth-wicket stand of 96 in 37 overs with Carl Hopkinson, who was unbeaten on 53 at stumps. Goodwin was closing in on his fifth century of the season when he was trapped lbw by Darren Pattinson, bowling the first delivery with the new ball.

There were six boundaries in Goodwin's three-and-a-half-hour vigil and his wicket was Notts' only success in the final session.

The visitors had to work hard for their wickets after Sussex chose to bat, and veteran all-rounder Mark Ealham took the first three wickets on his 39th birthday before Goodwin and Hopkinson gave the hosts the advantage. Mike Yardy (64) earlier passed 50 for the fifth time this season.

Yardy shared an opening stand of 82 in 24 overs with Chris Nash, who fell leg-before for 28 stretching forward to Ealham.

Ealham struck again in the third over after the interval with Andrew Hodd falling to a diving catch by wicketkeeper Chris Read having made only five.

Yardy's 119-ball vigil was ended by Ealham, who had him caught at the wicket. Ealham gave way to left-arm spinner Rob Ferley at the Sea End having taken 3-49 in his opening stint of 15 overs, and Goodwin and skipper Chris Adams batted smoothly to add 45 for the fourth wicket until Adams was run out for 23.

Adams was beaten by a good throw to the striker's end by Pattinson.