Sussex go into the final day of their County Championship match against Derbyshire as clear favourites to extend their lead in Division Two with a sixth victory of the season.

But some resolute batting by the visitors second time around gave them an outside chance of saving the game.

In their first innings, Derbyshire had been 24-4 in reply to Sussex’s 607-8 but after being asked to follow-on they ended the third day on 141-2, still 176 behind.

Openers Harry Came and Luis Reece dropped anchor with a first-wicket stand of 46 in 23.4 overs as they saw off the opening burst from Ollie Robinson and Jaydev Unadkat with the Kookaburra ball.

At 29 without loss after 16 overs, Sussex captain John Simpson – influenced by the fading light – switched to his spinners and James Coles made the breakthrough in the 24th over when Reece, sweeping, was caught by Fynn Hudson-Prentice at deep backward square-leg for 27.

Bad light brought a slightly early tea and when play resumed after an hour Brooke Guest was more positive, striking three fours and sweeping Jack Carson for six before he fell lbw on the back foot to the Sussex spinner.

Came and first-innings centurion Wayne Madsen defied the Sussex attack with an unbroken half-century stand, ending the day unbeaten on 54 and 31 respectively.