Sussex v Lancs: Prince knock at Hove leaves it delicately balanced

Ashwell Prince scored a half-century to help Lancashire to 203-4

Ashwell Prince's half-century helped Lancashire fight back to leave their match against Sussex delicately poised.

The former South Africa Test star made 85 as the visitors reached 203-4 in their second innings, a lead of 89.

Lancashire's top four all got starts, but only Prince was able to go on and make a decent score.

Chris Jordan (41) and Ashar Zaidi (66) put on 104 for the eighth wicket as Sussex's lower order helped them to a second innings 434, a lead of 114.

Zaidi, who has a first-class double century to his name, hit his first 50 of the summer before giving Steven Croft his fourth catch of the innings off the left-arm spin of Simon Kerrigan (3-117).

Jordan quickly made an impact with the ball as Paul Horton top-edged a cut to third man for 16 before Steve Magoffin removed Australia batsman Usman Khawaja to leave Lancashire on 56-2.

With the pitch at Hove increasingly taking spin, Zaidi (2-61) had Karl Brown (29) caught behind by Ben Brown.

Prince and Croft's patience then looked like cementing the advantage to Lancashire before Prince was snaffled at short-leg by Chris Nash in the penultimate over of the day after more than three-and-a-half hours at the crease.

Relegation-threatened Lancashire's chances of setting a testing target on the last day now rest with Croft (34 not out) and England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read:

"Another absorbing day of cricket and thanks to some skilful batting from Steven Croft and Ashwell Prince, Lancashire still have a chance of winning.

"I wouldn't expect Lancashire to go gung-ho in the morning, rather build carefully and see off the new ball, which is only 12 overs away."

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms:

"Much of the day was played under floodlights on another gloomy day on the South coast.

"Ashar Zaidi, who spent much of the season playing second team cricket, took five wickets in the match and scored 66 runs to more than justify his selection.

"Lancashire need to get their sums right tomorrow, setting Sussex an achievable target whilst allowing enough time to bowl the hosts out."