County Championship: Sussex's John Simpson hits maiden double ton at Leicester

John Simpson put on 255 for the seventh wicket with Danny Lamb

John Simpson struck a maiden double century as Sussex put Leicestershire to the sword on day three of their County Championship game.

Replying to Leicestershire's 338 all out, the visitors piled up the third highest total in their first-class history before declaring on 694-9, with the hosts then closing on 86-1 in their second innings to trail by 270.

Simpson finished on 205 not out, having shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 255 (89 short of their county record) with Danny Lamb, whose 134, including seven sixes, was also a career best.

It was following the dismissal of Ari Karvelas for 55 six overs after tea that Sussex declared with a first-innings lead of 356.

There was barely a hint of a breakthrough until five overs after lunch when Lamb, on 85, got to a legside delivery from Matt Salisbury but Ben Cox could only help it to the boundary.

Simpson reached his fifty from 108 balls and his hundred from 197, passing the bigger milestone when he pulled Salisbury for four to bring up the Sussex 450.

Lamb was quicker to a hundred than his partner by some distance, needing just 108 balls.

He brought out the scoop for his fifth six off Ben Mike, launched Liam Trevaskis high over long-on to chalk up the 500 with his sixth and reverse-sweeping Louis Kimber for his seventh. But he was then bowled attempting to heave Trevaskis over mid-wicket.

Jack Carson hit two sixes in a 23-ball 38 and Simpson added five sixes to 23 fours, his second hundred coming off 97 balls, before calling time on the innings when Karvelas was caught at long-off from Kimber's bowling.

Leicestershire negotiated the first 14 overs of the second innings without mishap until off spinner Carson broke through to have Australian opener Marcus Harris caught at short leg.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.