Warwickshire are poised for their second Championship win of the season after Sussex ended the third day at Hove with a lead of just ten runs and six second innings wickets down.

Only Richard Montgomerie, a former captain of Warwickshire's under-19s, held up their bid for a fifth successive win over Sussex at Hove. The opener batted for over four and a half hours and he will resume tomorrow four short of a first century of the season after facing 225 balls and hitting 12 boundaries in his unbeaten 96.

Sussex followed on 187 in arrears and were quickly reduced to 24-2 when Mel Betts trapped Murray Goodwin lbw and Michael Yardy was caught behind off Vasbert Drakes.

Montgomerie and Bas Zuiderent put on 83 in 30 overs for the third wicket before the Dutchman drove Neil Smith's off spin straight to mid on. Smith had Chris Adams leg before on the back foot after tea while fellow off-spinner Mark Wagh removed Robin Martin-Jenkins in his first over to a catch at the wicket.

Drakes was officially warned for running onto the wicket after he had Umer Rashid caught off the top of the bat when he ducked into a bouncer, but Montgomerie and Matt Prior dug in and at least ensured Sussex took the battle into a fourth day.

Earlier they had lost their last four first innings wickets for 57 with Drakes and Smith claiming two victims apiece.

Drakes removed nightwatchman James Kirtley and Prior in the space of three deliveries before Smith induced Mark Davis and Jason Lewry into mis-timing drives to mid off and mid on respectively. Sussex were all out for 208 and they effectively ended the third day at 10-6 and facing their first Championship defeat of the season.

© CricInfo