Sussex face an uphill battle to avoid their first ever Championship defeat by Durham after they were dismissed for their lowest total of the season on the second day at Hove.

The second division leaders were bundled out for just 117 in 35.4 overs and only avoided the follow on thanks to a determined 38 from Matthew Prior and Jason Lewry's belligerent 23 batting at Number 10.

Martin Love scored his 13th half-century of the season when Durham batted again with a lead of 137 and by the close the visitors, who have lost eight and drawn the other of their nine previous Championship games against Sussex, were well placed on 179-5, a lead of 316, when bad light ended play five overs early.

James Kirtley took the final first innings wicket in the first over of the day to finish with 5-48 and there was no hint of the drama to come when Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie put on 33 in seven overs for Sussex's first wicket.

But Steve Harmison took four wickets, including Chris Adams, Bas Zuiderent and Michael Yardy for ducks, James Brinkley three and Nicky Hatch one as the Durham attack exploited ideal bowling conditions and exposed flimsy batting technique against the moving ball to reduce Sussex to 70-8.

But Prior and Lewry added 31 for the ninth wicket and although Prior was run out with four still needed to avoid the follow-on, Lewry averted the crisis with some lusty hitting.

Batting conditions noticeably improved during the afternoon and Love added 117 in 30 overs with his captain Jon Lewis after Gary Pratt had fallen to Kirtley in the second over.

Kirtley and Mark Robinson both took two wickets after tea with Love falling leg before to Kirtley for 82, but salvation is still a long way off for Sussex.

© CricInfo