Mark Ramprakash closed in on his 99th first-class hundred but Surrey's game against Sussex is headed for a draw.

The former England batsman, 38, reached 66 as the visitors ended day three on 164-2 in reply to the champions' 475.

Matt Prior and Robin Martin-Jenkins hit fifties in that and the latter trapped Jon Batty and Scott Newman (68) lbw.

Newman had added 106 in 30 overs with Ramprakash, who eased to his half-century from 99 balls with six fours and looked on course for another ton.

He began cautiously, taking 20 balls to get off the mark, but he opened up as the innings progressed.

Earlier, Prior completed his fourth successive Championship half-century in front of national selector Geoff Miller after Sussex resumed on 318-5.

Prior and James Kirtley shared 58 in 21 overs before Chris Jordan had Prior caught at gulley attempting to pull and Saqlain Mushtaq (4-126) trapped Kirtley leg-before in the space of five balls.

Martin-Jenkins took Sussex past 400 and maximum points by cutting Jordan to the ropes and went on to face 82 balls in his undefeated vigil.

His seventh wicket stand of 55 with Luke Wright ended in the third over after lunch when Wright drove Jimmy Ormond to mid-off and Saqlain polished off the innings by removing tail-enders Ollie Rayner and Jason Lewry in the space of three balls.