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Worcestershire's bowlers earned their side a slender first-innings lead on the second day of their clash with Sussex at Horsham.

The hosts resumed on 16-0 but struggled against the spin of Moeen Ali (3-43) and Saeed Ajmal (2-44) as they were bowled out for 265 to trail by 25.

Joe Gatting top-scored for Sussex with 61, while Kirk Wernars (53) and Murray Goodwin (48) made key contributions.

Worcestershire's openers survived six overs to close on 16-0, 41 ahead.

It was the eighth time in nine innings that Sussex had failed to reach 300 as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Gatting put on 57 for the first wicket with Ed Joyce in a rain-affected morning session before Joyce was acrobatically caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Ben Scott off Gareth Andrew.

Alan Richardson bowled Luke Wells for a duck and then had Gatting caught behind as Sussex slumped to 152-5.

They were revived by a stand of 61 between Goodwin and Wernars, playing only his third first-class game, before Ajmal and Moeen shared four of the final five wickets to fall.

With the light failing, home captain Michael Yardy opened the bowling with slow left-armer Monty Panesar and off-spinner Wells, but Daryl Mitchell and Matthew Pardoe got through to the close without alarm.