County Championship Division Two: Sussex seize control on day three

Sussex are favourites to claim their third win in their last four Specsavers County Championship games after an unbeaten 166 by Stiaan van Zyl left Leicestershire reeling on day three at Arundel.

The South African was well supported by Luke Wright (60) and Ben Brown (67), who both made half-centuries, before Jofra Archer smashed 42 off 14 balls to take Sussex to 443-6 declared.

That left Leicestershire needing 425 to claim their first win of the season and though openers Arun Harinath (17no) and Paul Horton (15no) got through 10 overs before stumps to close on 36-0, needing 389 for victory on the final day.

Van Zyl had come to the wicket when Sussex's advantage was only 64 after Luke Wells (43) was lbw to Matt Pillans (2-77). Harry Finch (18) was then trapped in his crease by Clint McKay (2-62) to reduce Sussex to 87-3.

Leicestershire's day went downhill from there. Van Zyl gave one chance on 35 which should have been taken, but Richard Jones dropped an easy catch at cover off Will Fazackerley's first ball and the 29-year-old, who played 12 Tests for South Africa before joining Sussex on a three-year Kolpak deal in the winter, made them pay.

His stand of 135 in 40 overs with Wright put Sussex in the driving seat and there was no loss of momentum when Wright hooked to deep square leg.

Skipper Brown was at his busy and effective best, turning ones into twos and employing some effective back-foot shots against a tiring attack as he and Van Zyl added 146 in 28 overs to build a strong position.

Van Zyl passed his previous best for Sussex - 147 against Durham in May - and although Brown eventually out to Richard Jones, there was no end to the suffering for a Leicestershire attack who have failed to bowl a side out twice in the Championship this season.

Archer thrashed off-spinner Rob Sayer for three sixes in an over and also struck three fours in a violent cameo before Sussex pulled out with Van Zyl on 166 from 252 balls with 24 fours.