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Chris Adams and Phillip Cottey proved a thorn in Surrey's side as Sussex staved off defeat in gritty fashion at The Oval.

The top-order pair scored a century each to make the home side bat again after Sussex were made to follow on.

They laid the foundation as Sussex's second innings realised 379, moving them into a 112-run lead.

But Surrey's openers chipped 23 runs off the deficit before stumps, and they look sure to reel in their modest victory target on day four.

Sussex failed to add to their overnight score of 308-9 when Ian Salisbury dismissed James Kirtley, allowing stand-in Surrey captain Mark Butcher to enforce the follow-on.

Alex Tudor made the early breakthrough, trapping Richard Montgomerie in front for nought.

But Sussex stuck to their task, Adams first sharing in a 110-run stand with Murray Goodwin (34) and then an 88-run partnership with Cottey.

Both centurions made 114, Adams clearly the more aggressive with 22 boundaries compared with Cottey's 12.

A steady flow of wickets followed when Tudor dismissed Adams - his seventh for the match - with the score on 198/3 before the innings was ended late in the day.

Butcher (14) and Ian Ward (nine) then survived the four overs Sussex bowled at them before the close of play.

Surrey: M A Butcher (Capt), I J Ward, A J Stewart (Wkt) M R Ramprakash, A D Brown, N Shahid, Azhar Mahmood, M P Bicknell, I D K Salisbury, A J Tudor, J Ormond.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, M W Goodwin, C J Adams (Capt), P A Cottey, M H Yardy, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior (Wkt), M J G Davis, J D Lewry, P M Hutchison, R J Kirtley.