Kent allrounder Marcus O’Riordan was feeling positive after day one of his side’s Bob Willis Trophy game against Sussex, despite the visitors batting all the way through the first day.

Sussex closed on 320 for nine with captain Ben Brown unbeaten on 90, batting with former Kent seamer Mitchell Claydon at the close.

O’Riordan shone with the ball, taking three for 50 from 13 overs, whilst Harry Podmore also took three wickets, from 21 overs at the price of 74 runs.

“I think both sides are fairly happy” said O’Riordan, speaking at the close of play on Saturday.

“It was a tough day in terms of conditions, but I think we stuck at it well. It was nice that once we got a wicket, we could get a couple more quickly.

“It would have been nice to bowl them out and bat a bit in the last session, but we are in a decent position.”

Sussex won the toss at the start of the day and chose to bat, and they progressed nicely through throughout but for Kent pinning them back with consistent wickets.

Darren Stevens dismissed dangerman Phil Salt with the new ball for 19 early on, and Podmore impressed for his three wickets, whilst Tim Groenewald also claimed a scalp on debut.

“The seamers got a bit out of it when we bowled fuller” said O’Riordan, who took the key wickets of Harry Finch and Tom Clark after they had both settled well. “There was more bounce and a bit of movement”.

“It did start to spin in the last session. It was mainly the straighter balls that spun a bit more but there is certainly a bit there for spin and seam.

“It is a decent pitch. If you bowl well on it then you will get something out of it. Harry Podmore bowled either side of tea well and it looked very hard to score, but if you can get in on it then there are certainly runs to be had.”

Sussex can bat a maximum of 30 more overs until they will be forced to declare, but Kent will be hoping they can take the last wicket early on day two.

The aim of the day is then to bat through.

“I do not think we need to over complicate it too much” said O’Riordan.

“We want to get that wicket as soon as we can and then look to bat the whole day, and the full 120 overs, and put a decent first innings score on the board.”