Lancashire had veteran batsman Stuart Law to thank after they recovered from a shaky start to close day two at Hove on 246-4 - still 193 behind Sussex.

Matt Prior (112), Robin Martin-Jenkins (73) and Luke Wright (51no) extended Sussex's ovenight 282-5 to 439.

Dominic Cork returned after treatment on a dislocated finger to take 4-54 but Jason Lewry soon reduced Lancs to 71-3.

Law responded with some fine shots to make 102, receiving support from Nathan Astle (41) and Gareth Cross (61no).

In 11 innings for Lancashire against Sussex, Australian-born Law has now scored 1,036 runs with four centuries and a double hundred at an incredible average of 148.

Yet he ended the day playing second fiddle to Cross, who dispatched one over from Mushtaq Ahmed for a six and three fours.

A good partnership has left us in a not too bad position Lancs coach Mike Watkinson

Of further concern to Sussex will be the fitness of leg-spinner Mushtaq, who limped off the field with an apparent groin injury in the 47th over.

His team were in the driving seat when Prior - watched by chairman of selectors David Graveney - moved from his overnight 69 to three figures with a flurry of boundaries.

He and Martin-Jenkins extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 171, and when Lewry struck twice in his first two overs Lancashire were on the ropes, but Law and Cross ensured the race for the title remains intriguingly poised.

Visitng coach Mike Watkinson said: "A good partnership has left us in a not too bad position at the end of play.

"Stuart's innings came at a time when we really needed it. He has played some good innings here in recent seasons.

"Gareth has a particular style of playing which perhaps gives people a chance early on in his innings.

"But if he gets through that he can be dangerous and we saw that. He is a scrapper, a good character to have in your team.