LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Hove:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Sussex 217 & 321, Middlesex 296 & 122-5
Sussex 4pts Middlesex 5pts
Match scorecard

Hodd's century came off 161 balls and included nine boundaries

Wicketkeeper Andy Hodd hit a century to leave Sussex within sight of a fifth successive Championship victory - and Middlesex a fifth straight defeat.

Hodd, who lost overnight partner Matt Prior early on, made 109, and Monty Panesar a career-best 46 not out as Sussex were bowled out for 321.

Set 243 to win, Middlesex were soon in trouble at 78-5, England captain Andrew Strauss again out cheaply.

But Dawid Malan gave his side hope with an unbeaten 56 as they closed on 122-5.

Middlesex had begun the day with high hopes of pressing for victory themselves as Sussex, who trailed by 79 on first innings, resumed on 113-4.

And those hopes only grew when first-innings centurion Prior hooked Iain O'Brien to deep mid-wicket in the second over of the day to leave his side 118-5 - effectively 39-5.

But, led by Hodd's fourth career century, during which he passed 1,500 first-class runs, and Panesar's dogged effort, Sussex saw their last five wickets add 203.

Hodd also had good support from Robin Martin-Jenkins and James Anyon before both fell to Tim Murtagh, who finished with 5-91.

After giving themselves something to bowl at, Sussex wasted no time in making inroads with the new ball, Corey Collymore trapping Scott Newman lbw and bowling Owais Shah off an inside edge.

But the real damage was done by Martin-Jenkins, who took three wickets in 14 balls, including that of Strauss, who has now scored just one half-century in 10 Championship innings this summer.

Malan and Gareth Berg (10no) managed to add an unbroken 44 for the sixth wicket before the close, but Sussex will still be favourites to complete victory on the final morning.

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