A stubborn 148 not out from Mal Loye frustrated Sussex at Hove and earned Lancashire a potentially crucial draw against their Championship rivals.

Sussex declared on their overnight total of 294-6, a lead of 391 runs.

Early wickets piled on the pressure and despite dogged contributions from Glen Chapple and Mark Chilton, it was left to Loye to try to salvage Lancs a draw.

And his 336-minute rearguard innings of 148 runs from 256 balls saved the day as Lancashire ended on 290-9.

The result means Sussex still lead the title race by one point but are sure to be overtaken in midweek when Lancashire play Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

We know we probably haven't played that well in this game. We were always playing catch-up - so to get a draw out of it, we're very happy Mal Loye

This was the third time this season Sussex have failed by two wickets or fewer to close out a win - and Loye was the main reason the latest batch of 10 extra points eluded them.

Following Iain Sutcliffe's early demise, Loye and Chilton (29 from 121 balls) kept Sussex at bay for much of the morning session.

However, four wickets after lunch ensured a nail-biting final session but first Chapple (32 from 71 balls) and then a 38-ball 10 runs from Dominic Cork - playing with a broken finger - ably supported Loye.

Sussex were restricted by an injury themselves, Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed taking three wickets despite neck and groin injuries.

But, despite ending the day with a team full of close catchers at both ends, Sussex could not force the vital final breakthrough as Loye's heroics were rewarded as he and Gary Keedy (0no) survived.

And Loye admitted he felt like a "nervous teenager" as he counted down the overs at the Country Ground.

"I haven't felt like that for a long, long time," he said. "I think my first date as a teenager was the last time I felt like that.

"I thought Dominic (Cork) played particularly well - coming out with that injury and in a lot of pain. He took on Mushy, and I took the seamer. It was a crucial partnership.

"We know we probably haven't played that well in this game. We were always playing catch-up - so to get a draw out of it, we're very happy."