WELCOME to the first division.

That was the message from Sussex’s impressive pace attack as Hampshire collapsed during a four-over baptism of fire against their south-coast rivals - while Nic Pothas looked on from the visitors’ balcony.

Hampshire could have done with Pothas in his prime as they collapsed to 220-9 against the weight of scoreboard pressure amassed by Sussex, who made 444 after resuming on 300-6.

Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown added 59 to his overnight 85 to finish unbeaten on 144 - the sort of innings Pothas, now Sussex’s wicketkeeping and batting consultant, produced for Hampshire before being released in 2011, the end of the county’s last season in division one.

The portents were not good for Hampshire when it was confirmed that Jimmy Adams was not fit enough to open the batting, having bruised a knee when he clattered into advertising boards in trying to prevent a boundary on Sunday.

But Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson made a fluent start – before Hampshire collapsed to 63-5 during the last four overs before tea.

After putting on 47 in the opening 12 overs, Carberry and Dawson were lbw to successive deliveries, at the end of Shahzad’s sixth over and the beginning of rookie Matt Hobden’s second.

There began a passage of play that saw Hampshire lost their first five wickets for 16 runs in the space of 22 balls.

It was a case of blink-and-you-miss it as Will Smith nicked Shahzad to second slip in the following over.

Then Adam Wheater failed to show the stickability that his predecessor, Pothas, was known for when he played a tentative drive and was caught by Ed Joyce in the gully. Tea was taken when Adams was caught behind after coming in at number six.

Hampshire’s top order is their strength so the last four overs of the afternoon session were a rude awakening against an attack that did not utilise the fearsome pace of Tymal Mills until the home side were five down.

Steve Magoffin, who took 72 division one wickets last season, got in on the act in the fourth over of his second spell, when he had James Vince caught in the slips for a run-a-ball 37 before bowling Berg, who shouldered arms to an off-cutter.

At least Sean Ervine (57no) and Chris Wood (48) produced the sort of stoic eighth-wicket stand that was once synonymous with Pothas.

They shared 109 from only 116 balls, before Mills’ extra pace saw off Wood, who was caught at backward square leg working the ball off his ribs.

The day ended when Danny Briggs, having earlier taken three of the last four Sussex wickets, nicked Mills to third slip - with Hampshire still needing 75 to avoid the follow on.