Nash battles hard as Sussex stay in game

Sussex need 181 to win with 6 wickets in hand

Day three of the LV County Championship game at Hove against Somerset started with the visiting team looking to build on an already substantial lead.

However, James Hildreth was the first to go when he was bowled by Dwayne Smith, leaving Somerset 82 for 2 and so began the Sussex fight back.

Chawla began his work by dismissing Suppiah only a few balls later, caught behind by Matt Prior and De Bruyn was next to follow caught by Mike Yardy again off the leg spinning Indian.

Keiswetter was the 5th wicket to fall but this time off the increasingly reliable bowling of Dwayne Smith, as he flashed hard at one and was caught in the slips.

Sussex began to pile the pressure back on to Somerset. Peter Trego, who was so effective in the first innings, this time fell for 5 - trapped lbw by that man Chawla.

Somerset’s star batsman Justin Langar, who had been visibly upset by a few of the umpiring decisions in the match, was another victim of the overseas player and was caught by Ed Joyce close to the wicket.

Thomas, Waller and Willoughby were all bowled by Piyush Chawla, leaving him with figures of 6 for 52 from 21.3 overs. This meant that Sussex needed 349 to win the game.

Although Mike Yardy and Murray Goodwin fell relatively cheaply, Chris Nash and Ed Joyce batted well and took Sussex past 100 for the loss of 2 wickets.

Ed Joyce fell to Trego playing on with the score at 134 for 3. This brought Matt Prior to the wicket with Chris Nash still batting well at the other end.

Nash completed an excellent hundred, leaving him well set going into day four, but Matt Prior, somewhat unluckily, fell to an excellent close catch by Suppiah off the bowling of Waller.

Jason Lewry came in as night watchman and survived the last few overs, whilst flirting with danger, leaving Sussex on 169 for 4 needing another 181 for victory.

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