Robin Martin-Jenkins returned his best County Championship figures since May 2007 as his five wickets for 43 runs helped to bowl Lancashire out for 236 at Old Trafford.

Rain meant a loss of overs for a second day running and play could only start at 1.30pm. But, with more late afternoon rain, only 37.1 were possible in the day.

Lancashire's South African batsman Francois du Plessis missed out on the opportunity to record his maiden Championship century, falling for 54.

He was the third of four wickets in 13 balls for 33-year-old Martin-Jenkins as the hosts fell from 223 for six to 236 all out in the 88th over.

Du Plessis and returning captain Glen Chapple, who is playing his first game after seven weeks out with a foot injury, shared 82 for the seventh wicket to help the hosts to recover from 141 for six in the 60th over.

Kyle Hogg was run out in just the fourth over of the morning when he hesitated on a quick single to cover and was left short of his ground thanks to Dwayne Smith's throw from cover.

But du Plessis and Chapple stayed together for 24 overs before Chapple (39 off 76 balls) was caught at second slip by Olly Rayner after Mike Yardy had parried from first.

That provided Martin-Jenkins with his second wicket of the innings and his first of the day. More were to follow quickly.

Sajid Mahmood was trapped lbw the very next ball before du Plessis was undone by extra bounce and could only spoon to Ed Joyce at cover in the 88th over. Du Plessis had hit six boundaries in his 124-ball stay at the crease.

Lancashire, who were now 229 for nine, could only add seven more runs before Oliver Newby flashed Martin-Jenkins to Rayner at second slip.

The all-rounder's figures of five for 43 from 14.4 overs presented him with only the seventh five-wicket haul of his first-class career. Lancashire had lost their last four wickets for 13 runs.

Martin-Jenkins only bowled 3.4 overs on day two after taking the second new ball.

There were a number of very brief rain delays throughout the afternoon with tea taken 35 minutes early at 3pm.

Sussex later managed to face just 5.4 overs before more heavier rain came down with them on 11 for nought in their reply.

Yardy had cracked opening bowler Hogg through the off-side for four off the back foot on his way to eight not out.

Fellow opener Joe Gatting, making his Championship debut after a number of impressive displays in one-day cricket, will resume Friday's third day on three with Sussex trailing by 225 runs.