Murray Goodwin's unbeaten 77 kept title-holders Sussex battling to stave off defeat to Lancashire at Hove.

Goodwin passed 10,000 career runs on his way to an unbeaten 77 after more than three hours at the crease as Sussex reached 223-6 on day three.

But with the hosts leading by just 84, Lancashire will hope the heavy rain forecast for the final day on the south coast does not materialise.

Andrew Flintoff sent down 19 overs but was once again wicketless.

However, he appeared extremely unlucky not to have Chris Adams caught at slip by Paul Horton before lunch.

The umpires referred the appeal to the TV official, who gave the slight benefit of the doubt to the batsman - although many observers felt Horton's catch was a clean one.

The brief moment of controversy did not prove too costly for Lancashire, as Adams was dismissed by the excellent Glen Chapple (4-49) not long after the interval.

Chapple also picked up the wickets of Michael Yardy, Carl Hopkinson and Robin Martin-Jenkins, extracting whatever slight movement was available from a generally true surface.