Mushtaq Ahmed has claimed a match haul of 9-157 so far

County Championship D1, Hove, day three (close): Sussex 532 v Worcestershire 213 & 190-5

Sussex moved a big step closer to retaining the County Championship title after day three of their home match against relegated Worcestershire.

They reduced their opponents to 190-5 as they followed on, still 129 runs away from making Sussex bat again.

Sussex would overtake Durham, who beat Kent to go top of the table, and struggling Lancashire, with victory.

Bad light stopped play and the only concern Sussex may have would concern the weather prospects for Saturday.

Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was yet again the driving force as he took his match haul to 9-157.

It's a flat, dead wicket - and Mushy's just done his magic Sussex coach Mark Robinson

Worcestershire lost 13 wickets on Friday with Mushtaq getting Graeme Hick out twice on the same day.

The former Pakistan Test star followed a first-innings sequence of three wickets for four runs in seven balls with a near identical surge of 3-4 in 11 second time round.

"It's been a very good, very courageous day," said Sussex coach Mark Robinson.

"It's a flat, dead wicket - and Mushy's just done his magic.

"He's not really fit; he's on one knee - he's been on one knee for the last three weeks.

"But he's obviously very, very skilful - a strike bowler. On a wicket like that - which is dead - he's the difference, because he can open games up."

He added: "Everybody needs an X-factor - Arsenal had it with Thierry Henry, Brazil with Ronaldo, Australia with Shane Warne - to change the course of a match, but good teams don't rely on one bloke."

Worcestershire began the day on 96-2 and only Daryl Mitchell, who scored 70, showed any resistance as they were all out for 213.