Patient Prior rescues Sussex

Sussex's Matt Prior added to his first-innings runs with a controlled innings of 64

Matt Prior was again the key as champions Sussex emerged as likely winners of a pivotal LV Division One match against leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Sussex, still seeking a first victory of the season against opponents who already have two on the board, were able to set their hosts 286 to win - on the back of 195 runs in the match from their wicketkeeper.

After Prior had dug in for 64, sharing a sixth-wicket stand of 93 with Luke Wright in 259 all out on day three, Nottinghamshire struggled to 114 for five by stumps in pursuit of the biggest total at this ground so far this year.

Prior habitually scores at run-a-ball but his three-hour 50 was in stark contrast to his fluent first-innings hundred, taking him 132 deliveries and containing just six boundaries as he proved he can graft too when the situation demands.

Sussex needed Prior to come to the rescue, as he had at 74 for six on Tuesday morning, when the Notts seamers nipped out three quick and deserved wickets to have their opponents 114 for five.

They at last got rid of Mike Yardy, a departure swiftly followed by those of the number three’s third-wicket partner Murray Goodwin and then Chris Adams.

Yardy did not bow out until he had inflicted a little more frustration. Notts dropped the stoic left-hander, then thought they had him lbw and finally were convinced he was caught behind last night - but he survived each time to complete a half-century stand with Goodwin.

The tide turned for Notts when Yardy, who had added a few more runs off the edge as well as some off the middle, crunched a drive back at Charlie Shreck (three for 73) only to see the seamer hang on to a smart return catch.

With Yardy gone seven runs short of his half-century, Darren Pattinson saw off Goodwin for no addition only four balls later - caught behind off the glove as he tried to keep the bat inside the line.

Adams, on a pair, and Prior therefore had to start together on nought. The captain at least got off the mark this time but went lbw pushing across the line on the back foot in Mark Ealham’s first over.

Prior and Wright had to battle through against some very testing bowling from Shreck, Pattinson, Ealham and Paul Franks.

Both needed a little luck on a pitch which has been described as ’two-paced’ and was beginning to serve up more regularly unpredictable bounce for bowlers who also had Nottingham swing in their armoury.

Wright was put down on eight by Graeme Swann at first slip off Ealham. Prior, chanceless save for a run-out scare in the first innings, had 34 when Matt Wood failed to hold a sharp catch at short-leg off Swann and 44 when even the 6ft 11in Will Jefferson could not leap high enough to hold a tough one at second slip off Pattinson.

Wright’s contact with bat and pad resulted in an easy gully catch off Shreck with the new ball, and Robin Martin-Jenkins followed some outswing to be caught behind off Ealham.

Prior, however, continued to profit from self-denial and classy timing when required - and by the time Mushtaq Ahmed was dropped at second slip off Ealham, it was the 11th missed chance of the match, the sixth of the innings and the third by Jefferson.

Notts hit back to take the final three wickets for no runs, Prior last out when off-spinner Swann got one to turn sharply and bowl him.

A difficult target soon looked distant for the hosts when they lurched to 25 for three, the luckless Jefferson caught behind off Corey Collymore down the leg-side and Wood edging on to Jason Lewry as he tried to take the bat away.

Mark Wagh edged an airy drive and fell to a neat slip catch by Carl Hopkinson, and Prior saved an even better take to snap up Patel way down the leg-side off Wright.

But Adam Voges did enough, before he was lbw on the back foot to Martin-Jenkins, to ensure Notts took the match into its final day.