Middlesex on top despite Sussex rally

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Close, day three: Middlesex 499-8, Sussex 222 & 228-4
Middlesex 7pts, Sussex 2pts

Middlesex stayed on course for victory on day three at Lord’s despite Ed Joyce’s half-century giving the visitors hope.

Joyce’s unbeaten 75 helped the County Championship leaders to reach 228-4 in their second innings, leaving them 49 adrift.

Sussex had to follow-on after being dismissed for 222, with Luke Wright making 77 before falling to Ollie Rayner, who took 5-63.

Will Beer made 25 – his best score of the season – before being removed by Neil Dexter.

Sussex recovered after a terrible start to their second innings in which they lost Luke Wells for a duck to the final ball of Tim Murtagh’s opening over

Chris Nash (36) and Michael Yardy (41) shared a second-wicket stand of 67, while Matt Prior (18) was caught by Murtagh off James Harris.

A fifth-wicket stand of 105 from Joyce and first-innings top scorer Wright (48 not out) kept Sussex in contention.

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