LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISION ONE, Liverpool:
Close, day two: Sussex 243, Lancashire 319-5
Lancashire 6pts, Sussex 2pts
Match scorecard

Brown's previous best first-class score was 72 at Oxford MCCU last weekend

Karl Brown struck his maiden first-class century to bat Lancashire into a strong position on day two of their clash with Sussex at Liverpool.

After resuming on 32-1 in reply to the visitors' 243, the Red Rose county looked in trouble at 64-3.

But Brown (114) shared 180 for the fourth wicket with Mark Chilton (87) to put Lancashire into the lead.

Steven Croft and Tom Smith added an unbroken 53 for the sixth wicket as Lancashire closed on 319-5, 76 ahead.

Right-hander Brown, who has been on Lancashire's professional staff since 2006, is making only his seventh four-day appearance.

And he enjoyed a slice of luck before reaching his century when he was dropped on 82 by Naved Arif at square leg off Jimmy Anyon.

He completed his hundred three overs later, and was finally out for 114 off 236 balls, including 18 fours, with his effort the highest score by a Lancashire player in Championship cricket at Aigburth since Graeme Fowler made 169 against Kent in 1987.

Sussex had started the day brightly as nightwatchman Gary Keedy was caught at silly mid-off by Joe Gatting off Monty Panesar before Stephen Moore chopped an attempted pull off Amjad Khan on to his stumps.

But they then had to wait until midway through the final session for their next success when Chilton was bowled by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Brown fell in indentical fashion to Anyon soon afterwards but Croft (37 not out) and Smith (20 not out) saw Lancashire through to the close.

BBC Radio Manchester's Liam Bradford reflects on the day two action:
"Lancashire's side may have come in for a lot of unnecessary criticism over the size and experience of their squad but a grown-up innings from Karl Brown in only his seventh Championship game put Lancashire on track for their first win of the season.

"He wasn't alone in his endeavors. Mark Chilton balanced out energy with experience as the partnership grew and put Lancashire in a commanding position.

"Credit too must go to Steven Croft and Tom Smith, after Chilton and Brown went in quick succession. They steadied the ship and began to rebuild.

"Thanks to a team that looks more together than any Lancashire side for a long time, they will go into day three with the bit between their teeth and the smell of a victory in their nostrils."

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