sussex 216 and 236 for 7 (Carter 58, Clark 58, Hudson-Prentice 43*) lead yorkshire 364 for December 8 (Lyth 115, Malan 92) for 88 runs

Yorkshire will be hoping the weathermen have made a mess of the last day forecast as they chase an LV=Insurance County Championship win over Sussex at Headingley.

Unbeaten promotion hunters Sussex came under pressure early on in the field as Yorkshire advanced their first innings reply to 216 from 286 for four overnight to 364 for eight declared, scoring 78 runs in just 9.4 overs of play.

That meant the visitors started their second innings 148 behind with 92 overs remaining on the day, a tally reduced to 84 by a couple of showers. And they closed at 236 of seven with an 88 lead.

Never mind Bazball, this was Gibboball as Yorkshire scored 78 runs in the first 9.2 overs of play to set up a statement.

Manager Ottis Gibson clearly wanted to try and avoid being stung by the wet weather on the final day against Sussex for the second time this season.

In Hove at the end of April, Yorkshire went on day four needing 63 with seven wickets remaining and were thwarted by an all-out washout.

Here, Malan scored two fours and a sweep of six from the first four balls of the day from outfielder Jack Carson, and 55 came out of the first four overs courtesy of two more sixes in the leg side against closer Ari Karvelas and some aggression from Tattersall.

Greek international Karvelas then claimed the fall of three of the four wickets.

Malan was caught and bowled by Nathan McAndrew while Tattersall, Jordan Thompson and Ben Coad all tucked into the leg side.

Yorkshire then undermined Sussex’s higher order grounds when they realistically needed to arrive in a flood. Excuse the pun, but that’s what can happen if the forecasters are correct for day four!

The visitors look to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a ninth draw.

Left-handed starter Clark dug in amid better batting conditions despite overcast skies and was helped by the more combative Carter.

Mark Steketee, who hit twice along with Coad and Thompson, made the leadoff drive just after lunch when Tom Haines overcame an expansive drive: 31 for one in the 14th.

Charlie Tear, Tom Alsop’s concussion replacement, then overtook Coad as the first of two wickets to fall in the space of six balls, leaving the score at 48 for three in the 21st.

The third wicket was James Coles caught in third slip by Fin Bean off Thompson.

Clark was on 25 when Carter came on at number five, but the latter was only slightly back in his forties when the opener reached his third fifty of the season off 121 balls shortly before tea.

Clark and Carter shared 78 for the fourth wicket, though their partnership broke almost immediately after tea when Tattersall caught a cutting Clark on Adam Lyth’s second try.

When Danial Ibrahim got past Coad for the first time two balls later, Sussex were 127 for five in the 43rd and were still 21 runs adrift with almost 42 overs remaining on the day.

Having earlier lifted Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin by a further six length, Carter went on to hit his 75-ball fifty.

But Moriarty was the long-leg catcher when he pulled past Thompson. At the time, Sussex were 154 for six and six ahead with almost 34 overs remaining.

Australian McAndrew then overcame an attempt to pull in from his speedy compatriot Steketee – 189 for seven and a lead of 41 – but the overs were running out for Yorkshire.

Sussex’s first innings leading scorer Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who made 73, faced contrasting challenges to finish unbeaten on 43.

He faced some short pitch bowling from Steketee and then a leg spin from Malan, with the new ball, when the light deteriorated later.