Sussex kept up their chase of County Championship leaders Lancashire by taking two key Worcestershire wickets before stumps on day two at Hove.

Sussex need to win to stand any chance of retaining their title and were boosted by claiming maximum batting points in a massive total of 532.

Ninth-wicket pair Robin Martin-Jenkins (99) and Chris Liddle (53) put on 120.

Mushtaq Ahmed then got Stephen Moore (49) and Jason Lewry trapped Moeen Ali as the visitors reached 96-2.

With Lancashire struggling, Martin-Jenkins believes that Sussex can complete victory and clinch the title - providing the weather does not intervene.

"We are very pleased with the position we're in," he said. "The wicket is taking a little bit of turn and we are still very confident of victory.

"We've got 18 wickets to get to win the championship and still plenty of time to do it. Hopefully we will sleep well and come back ready to push our claim.

"We are pleased we've got the runs on the board and now hopefully scoreboard pressure will tell when this match resumes."

The late wickets were a welcome relief for Sussex after Moore and Daryl Mitchell (36 not out) had shared an opening stand of 79 for the visitors.

Sussex, who were 287-4 when play resumed, batted on until 50 minutes after lunch after building an imposing total with some impressive strokeplay.

Martin-Jenkins, who was dropped twice, fell agonisingly short of the fourth first-class century of his career when he was caught at point off the medium-pace of Mitchell.

Liddle, playing in only his second Championship match of the season, was also dismissed by Mitchell having thumped 11 fours in making a career-best 53 from 62 balls.

Mitchell ended with 3-50 from his 19.3 overs, with Kabir Ali returning figures of 3-79 from 17.

Relegated Worcestershire, needing 383 to avoid the follow-on, offered some stern early resistance until bad light stopped play early.

Former England star Graeme Hick had joined Mitchell at the crease and had moved on to seven.