Bowlers reap rewards
Steve Kirby makes his mark for MCC on the opening day of the campaign © Getty Images
Sussex were given immediate return on their investment in Australian Ryan Harris as 14 wickets tumbled on the opening day of the first-class season.
The 28-year-old, one of 10 foreign cricketers to be cleared for county action in the past 24 hours, took three wickets and ran out Adil Rashid as MCC closed on 130 for four.
That represented a deficit of 41 on county champions Sussex, who were bundled out shortly before tea after winning the toss at Lord's.
Harris claimed 37 Pura Cup wickets for South Australia this winter, placing him fifth overall in the bowling charts, before opting to throw in his lot with Sussex by virtue of a British passport.
Operating at a lively pace, his first spell from the nursery end reaped figures of 8-3-20-3, England duo Ed Joyce and Ravi Bopara edging behind either side of Michael Carberry being trapped leg before by an inswinger.
The departure of Yorkshire all-rounder Rashid via a majestic swivel and throw from mid-on left the representative side 73 for four and in danger of conceding a first-innings deficit.
But Owais Shah, who offered a difficult chance to Adams at second slip on 25, hit the match's first half-century, off 66 balls, to maintain the advantage secured by his side's bowlers in the first two sessions.
The 29-year-old finished unbeaten on 72, which represented more than double anyone else's score in the contest, nonchalantly flicking a six over midwicket off Robin Martin-Jenkins in addition to hitting 10 fours.
Shah aside, ball dominated bat throughout, however, and Sussex were dismantled thanks to a decisive performance from fast bowler Steve Kirby, who scythed through the top order with three wickets before lunch and another after the interval.
Graham Onions helped the hosts take charge with three wickets in quick succession
He would have had a five-wicket haul but Michael Carberry put down last man Jason Lewry at third slip.
In addition to Kirby's 4-39, Graham Onions claimed three wickets in the space of five overs at the start of the afternoon session and off-spinner James Tredwell mopped up three of the tail.
Gloucestershire's Kirby produced an impressive spell from the nursery end, having come on first change, and was the chief architect in 2007 county champions Sussex's demise from 42 without loss.
Kirby's first few deliveries featured plenty of venom and more than one appeal for lbw before Chris Nash succumbed in that manner in the 13th over.
Nash provided the bulk of the early scoring and struck seven boundaries in an attractive 33.
MCC new-ball pair Onions and Charlie Shreck nipped the ball around in the opening half-hour and it took two fours from Nash in the 10th over - a tuck off the pads followed by a cover drive - to boost the scoring rate.
Onions, initially operating from the nursery end, was then driven straight down the ground and short-arm jabbed to the rope at square-leg in the 13th.
But Kirby offered more of a threat and was rewarded when Michael Yardy, who led England Lions over the winter, dangled the bat at a short-of-a-length delivery and was well taken at third slip.
An even better catch by Tredwell at second slip, clinging on after the ball flew at chest height from a tentative poke by Carl Hopkinson, took Kirby's tally to 3-18 in 27 balls.
Onions removed Matt Prior with a beauty, second ball after lunch, induced Chris Adams into top-edging a pull and found the outside edge of Luke Wright's bat as MCC made use of the helpful conditions.
Harris shared 33 for the eighth wicket with Robin Martin-Jenkins, who followed one which left him from Kirby.
