Sussex went into the final day against Warwickshire at Egbaston knowing their top order's resolve would be tested to the full.

Warwickshire, who had a first innings lead of 116, declared on 284-6 last night, leaving Sussex a target of 401 in 99 overs. They had to negotiate three overs before the close but made a disastrous start when Alan Richardson trapped Murray Goodwin lbw for his first Championship duck of the season. Sussex closed on 5-1 and a draw is probably the limit of their ambitions.

In 18 Championship digs this season the county have past 300 on 11 occasions and against an attack lacking a specialist spinner to exploit some slow turn it should not be too difficult to do it again. Big parterships are the key.

If they require inspiration they need look no further than Warwickshire opener Nick Knight who looked untroubled yesterday in adding a patiently-crafted 97 to the 245 not out he scored in the first innings.

A place in Warwickshire's history books beckoned but after hitting two sixes and 11 fours he was lbw to Kevin Innes's inswinging yorker. Knight had batted for 12 and a half hours in the match.

It was hard going during the afternoon for a Sussex attack being carried at one stage either side of tea by Chris Nash, their 19-year-old off-spinning debutant, and Tony Cottey who had only bowled three overs for the county prior to purveying seven overs of his tidy off breaks.

Acting captain Richard Montgomerie had to turn to that unlikely combination to give his struggling seam attack a breather. Of the four on duty in this match only Billy Taylor is anything like fully fit.

Robin Martin-Jenkins bowled six overs at three-quarter pace to test his sore side, Innes is still hampered by a groin strain and Jason Lewry joined the casualty list after bowling two overs with the new ball because of a tight hamstring.

Lewry returned to have Mark Wagh caught at slip, but Taylor was the pick of the attack and took three wickets.

Earlier in the day, South African Neil Carter had threatened Sussex's steady progress to their first target of 344 to avoid the follow on.

Cottey had gone for 137 after hitting 18 fours in his sixth century for the county, five of which have been scored away from Hove. Then in the next over Matt Prior fell for 47.

With another 14 needed and only two wickets to get, Warwickshire crowded in for the kil but Innes and Taylor averted the crisis.

Jason Laney followed his unbeaten first innings 205 by firing 125 off 177 balls to lead Hampshire to a seven wickets victory over Sussex in the Second XI Championship.

Laney shared in a match winning second wicket stand of 239 with Alex Morris (173no) as Hampshire reached their target of 360.

The run chase had been set up by two declarations on the third day. Sussex's fourth defeat was particularly galling as they had piled up 600-8 declared in their first innings.

A bright spot for Sussex is the return to fitness of fast bowler Paul Hutchison who bowled a total of 40 overs in his second match back following shin splints.

Scores: Sussex 600-8 dec and 162-1 dec; Hampshire 403-4 dec and 360-3.