Sussex heading for defeat

The hosts were set 349 to win at Hove after bowling the visitors out for 178. Indian spinner Piyush Chawla, who picked up a five-for in the first innings, did the damage again and finished with superb figures of six for 52.

Mike Yardy (six) and Murray Goodwin (five) fell early for Sussex - England wicketkeeper Matt Prior could also muster just 11 - and although Nash was still there on 111 at stumps, his team look doomed at 169 for four.

At Edgbaston, another Test team hopeful, Ian Bell, struck 79 but Warwickshire look sure to concede a first-innings deficit to champions Durham in their rain-affected match.

Replying to 433, the home side progressed from 168 for three to 264 for nine, with Bell's knock the highlight. England's forgotten man Steve Harmison outshone new Test star Graham Onions with the ball, taking five for 39.

Honours are even at New Road in another weather-hit match between Worcestershire and Yorkshire.

Responding to the hosts' 415, the Tykes were 413 for eight at the close of day three after Michael Vaughan yet again failed to impress the national team selectors with a mediocre 43.

All-rounder Tim Bresnan, who played against West Indies earlier in the summer, fared better with 97, while Andrew Gale struck 101.

It was day two at Liverpool, after yesterday's washout, where Lancashire's Andrew Flintoff was out for 12 against Hampshire in his second first-class game back after knee surgery.

Chris Tremlett took four for 49 as the Red Rose were skittled for 208, and the visitors were 124 for four in their response at the close - Flintoff yet to claim a victim.