Ramps in the runs again

Mark Ramprakash continued his successful run against Sussex © Getty Images

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Mark Ramprakash is closing in on his 99th first-class hundred at Hove where a draw looks to be the most likely outcome of Surrey's LV County Championship Division One tussle against defending champions Sussex.

The 38-year-old former England batsman reached 66 from 142 balls as Surrey closed the third day on 164 for two in reply to Sussex's 475.

Robin Martin-Jenkins followed an unbeaten half-century by removing openers Jonathan Batty and Scott Newman, but the loss of the first day to rain has had a massive effect on hopes of a positive result.

On a slow pitch, medium-pacer Martin-Jenkins (2-36) met with early success by trapping Batty leg before in the eighth over.

Newman (68) and Ramprakash then added 106 in 30 overs for the second wicket before Martin-Jenkins struck with the fifth ball of his second spell to have Newman lbw.

Ramprakash, who has scored eight of his 98 first-class hundreds against Sussex, eased to his half-century from 99 balls with six fours and now boasts 1,023 runs against Sussex in 16 innings for Surrey.

Robin Martin-Jenkins was left on 53 at the end of the innings

Ramprakash began cautiously, taking 20 balls to get off the mark, but he opened up to square drive Jason Lewry to the boundary before James Kirtley was driven to the fence.

Matt Prior earlier completed his fourth successive championship half-century and Martin-Jenkins struck an unbeaten 53 after Sussex resumed the third day on 318 for five.

Sussex were finally dismissed 45 minutes after lunch as Prior, who lost his England place at the end of last year but is included in the Lions' squad for their four-day game against New Zealand next week, struck seven fours from 72 balls as national selector Geoff Miller looked on.

The in-form Prior extended his six-wicket stand to 58 in 21 overs with Kirtley (19) before both batsmen fell in the space of five balls.

Pace bowler Chris Jordan had Prior (51) caught at gully attempting to pull before former Sussex off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq trapped Kirtley leg before to claim his second victim.

All-rounder Martin-Jenkins took Sussex past 400 and maximum points by cutting Jordan to the ropes.

Martin-Jenkins went on to face 82 balls in his undefeated vigil, hitting three fours, and his seventh-wicket stand of 55 with Luke Wright ended in the third over after lunch when Wright drove James Ormond to mid-off.

Saqlain polished off the innings by removing tail-enders Ollie Rayner and Lewry in the space of three balls to finish with 4-126 in 36 overs.