An unbeaten 71 by Robin Martin-Jenkins ensured Sussex avoided the follow-on against Surrey at the Oval.

Sussex were struggling on 197-7, but Martin-Jenkins and Jason Lewry shared a final-wicket stand of 57 to frustrate the hosts before Lewry fell for 22.

In their second innings Surrey added a further 77 to extend their lead to 204 heading into the final day.

Mark Ramprakash ended the day unbeaten on 36, a score that sees him pass 1000 runs for the 18th time in his career.

Resuming on 97-3 it took Sussex four overs to record their first run of the day as Murray Goodwin completed his half century.

Goodwin added a further five runs before he was expertly run out by James Benning's direct hit.

A brief respite for the visitors came as Rory Hamilton-Brown and Carl Hopkinson shared a sixth wicket stand of 53, but the wickets continued to fall until Martin-Jenkins and Lewry came to the crease.

The early Surrey wickets to fall were that of Scott Newman (five) and fellow opener Stewart Walters (eight).