Matt Prior followed his selection to the England Academy by passing 1,000 runs for the second successive season at Edgbaston.

The only thing missing to complete a memorable few days for the 22-year-old hitter was a third Championship hundred in the last five games to complete a memorable few days.

Prior made a superb 95, and in the context of the game they might prove to be his most important contribution of the season after Sussex's last two wickets unexpectedly added 104 to take them to 482-9 at the close, a handy lead of 136.

With a day left it does not look as if there will be enough time to force a result.

There is some uneven bounce, however, and Mushtaq Ahmed's leg spin could be a big factor, but the ease with which James Kirtley, who made an unbeaten 53, and Mohammad Akram negotiated the final hour last night suggests Warwickshire's top-heavy batting unit should be able to survive.

Warwickshire initially bowled with more purpose than they had on the second day when Richard Montgomerie and Ian Ward plundered 106 off the first 20 overs.

In the first session Sussex lost three wickets in adding just 77 runs. Not surprisingly, Prior, who regards a dot ball as a wasted opportunity, led the riposte after lunch as he hit 14 boundaries in an innings of increasing fluidity full of meaty drives and cuts.

But he had a let-off on 21 when Jonathan Trott dropped a dolly at slip off Naqaash Tahir with Prior already turning in the direction of the pavilion.

Prior probably did not tell Trott that he had just dropped the Championship, but subsequent events showed it to be a costly mistake.

With a hundred in sight, Prior tried to whip Ian Bell's first ball through square and lost his off stump instead.

He made 93 against Worcestershire last week but hid any disappointment at missing out again pretty well.

"Getting out in the 90s two games in a row is a bit of a nightmare especially as I'm in good nick at the moment," he said.

"But team-wise it was very important for us to keep fighting through the day. It's been a good wicket but we know that it can deteriorate suddenly so to get the lead we have could be crucial.

"If the wicket does go they could be five down by lunchtime today and we would be in business."

Prior was not the only batsman who failed to convert a good start into something more substantial.

Montgomerie has made a habit of it this season.

He has passed 50 on eight occasions without reaching three figures and here he added just five to his overnight 73 before falling leg before to Heath Streak offering no shot.

Tony Cottey was going well too when he was run out after an awful mix-up with Murray Goodwin while Trott held a superb catch high to his right to remove Chris Adams which made the blunder in the afternoon which reprieved Prior even more surprising.

Goodwin passed 50 for the third game in a row as he helped add 102 in 28 overs for the fifth wicket before Streak beat him off the pitch with the second new ball.

Robin Martin-Jenkins again got a start only to flick at a ball down the leg side from Tahir when he seemed well set and Mark Davis was undone by extra bounce.

The lead at that stage was only 26, but for the second week running the Sussex tail wagged furiously.

Helped by some shoddy Warwickshire fielding, Mushtaq Ahmed and Kirtley put on 40 for the ninth wicket and then Kirtley and last man Mohammad Akram took Sussex's lead beyond 100 in a last wicket alliance which is so far worth 70.

Kirtley reached only the third half-century of his career four overs before the close and if he could follow it by claiming his 500th first-class wicket it would complete a week as memorable as Prior's, especially if Sussex were to force an unlikely victory.