Daniel Hughes scored his first century of the season to place to place Sussex in a commanding position against Leicestershire at Hove before a series of poor strokes let the visitors back in the game.

At 196 for two Sussex were powerfully placed to gain a decisive lead. But Leicestershire, led by on-loan fast bowler Tom Helm, and assisted by poor stokes from Jack Leaning, Hughes and James Coles, just kept themselves in the game.

Batting looked a difficult business when Sussex started the day on 3 for 0. And with the last ball of the fourth over Tom Clark, defending, edged a delivery from Helm that straightened and Rishi Patel took a sharp catch at first slip.

Helm struck again in his next over when, without addition, Dan Ibrahim, replacing the unwell Tom Haines, edged a straight ball and Rishi Patel again took the catch.

Helm, on loan from Middlesex, was the stand-out Leicestershire bowler all day, finding bounce and movement from his straight and purposeful approach.

The worry for Leicestershire, in the absence of the injured Josh Davey, is that the rest of the attack wasn’t quite in Helm’s class, though Ben Green was threatening on occasions.

Ian Holland opened the attack with Helm and frequently Hughes jumped down the pitch to attack the bowling of from the Leicestershire captain.

While ball was still hard there were problems for the Sussex batsmen. Jack Leaning struggled in particular in the opening hour, and he might have been fortunate to survive a plausible lbw appeal from Green.

At lunch Sussex were 125 for two, with Hughes 77 not out and Leaning unbeaten on 28. Hughes reached his century (out of 154) when he square-drove Holland to the point boundary.

When Ben Cox fluffed a stumping chance off the bowling of Ajaz Patel, with Leaning on 44, the visiting side must have wondered where the next wicket would come from.

But Sussex came to their aid. Leaning had just reached a patient, obdurate fifty, off 131 deliveries with five fours, when he gave it away, going down the wicket to drive a simple catch to mid-on; 196 for 3. His innings – and his demise – replicated Holland’s effort the previous day.

There was more where that came from. Hughes had been batting at his best and looked set for a massive score. But when he had made 136 he drove a wide half-volley to cover; 224 for 4.

The Australian left-hander looked crestfallen. But he had played a gorgeous innings, batting for 229 minutes and hitting 20 fours.

The out of form James Coles, dropped a place to No 5 in he hope of finding his touch, looked in the mood when he expertly guided Tom Scriven to third man for four. But he had made only 19 when he attempted a lavish off-side stroke off the back foot and edged to Cox, who took a splendid catch; 245 for five.

Sussex appeared to be throwing it away, losing three careless wickets in the space of 49 runs. But some of the best batting was still to come. John Simpson, batting with power and easy timing, put on a sprightly 88 in 20 overs with Charlie Tear.

Helm ended the fun when he took the new ball, at 333 for five, and had Tear lbw on the back foot for an eye-catching, 67-ball 44. Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Jack Carson fell cheaply but Simpson was still there at the close, unbeaten on 89.