Even Sussex's most pessimistic followers are starting to dream of a first Championship after the county maintained its grip on the battle of the top two at Hove.

Supporters used to mediocrity and underachievement over the years could not quite believe what they were seeing as their side made 429 before reducing Surrey to 126-6 shortly after tea on the second day.

But Mark Ramprakash kept the champions' heads above water with a determined half-century and found an equally resilient partner in Martin Bicknell. By the close they had put on 86 in 28 overs for the seventh wicket. Surrey resume today on 212-6, still 217 behind but, more importantly, only 68 short of avoiding the follow-on.

The gap between the top two is now down to two points and at the halfway stage, with rain forecast today, the least Sussex can expect is a draw with maximum bonus points. If nothing else, Surrey now know that they will not be shaken off easily.

Surrey had taken advantage of ideal conditions for seam and swing in the morning to take the last Sussex wickets for 66, but an entertaining eighth wicket stand of 48 in eight overs between Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mushtaq Ahmed at least made sure their first objective - maximum batting points - was achieved.

The sun had burnt off the cloud cover by the time Surrey began their reply but Sussex's attack persevered as they have done all season and, helped by one or two loose shots, they soon had Surrey on the rack.

Not surprisingly on a pitch on which 50 overs of spin were bowled on the first day, Mushtaq Ahmed was in his element.

Almost a year ago Mushtaq was playing the first of two matches for Surrey at Hove. He went wicketless and Sussex secured the win which virtually secured their place in the first division for another season while Surrey went on to win their third title in four years.

Twelve months on Mushtaq is again wheeling away, but it is Sussex rather than his old employers who look like champions at the moment - even if some of their supporters are still finding it hard to believe.

Mushtaq bowled unchanged after coming on at the Cromwell Road end in the 17th over and increased his season's tally to 69 with two wickets either side of tea when first Adam Hollioake and then his fellow Pakistani Azhar Mahmood were leg before padding up to the googly.

Sussex had broken through in successive overs with the new ball. Ian Ward looked disappointed to be given out leg befor to James Kirtley while Paul Hutchison shaped the ball away enough from Jonathan Batty to find the edge.

A slow pitch has offered few terrors for batsmen and Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe briefly put conditions into perspective in a stand of 41 for the third wicket.

But Thorpe carelessly clipped the ball to square leg where Mark Davis held on to an excellent low catch and Rikki Clarke was no less culpable in pulling a bouncer down long leg's throat. Those wickets gave Robin Martin-Jenkins due reward for an excellent nine over spell.

The clamour for Thorpe to be recalled to the England side will grow even louder after events at Lord's, but on yesterday's evidence it is Ramprakash whom the selectors should consider first.

He took few liberties against the seamers who had seen enough on the first day to realise that any indiscretion in line or length would be punished.

But one flowing straight driven four off Martin-Jenkins was worth the admission money on its own and he did come down the pitch to loft Mushtaq over the top to reach his half-century with his eighth boundary.

Not that Ramprakash played Mushtaq with any great degree of confidence. He survived a loud appeal - even by Mushy's standards - for leg before on 30 and edged the leg spinner just past slip in his next over. Surrey's hopes of clawing themselves back into this match largely depend on him today.

Sussex must have harboured hopes of scoring 500 or more after resuming on 362-4 but James Ormond and Bicknell, armed with the new ball, were having none of it.

Ormond took three wickets in 13 deliveries including Chris Adams who was caught down the leg side after failing to add to his overnight 107. Adams walked, even though Ormond made only a muted appeal and umpire Mark Benson was not convinced either. He later commended Adams for his sportsmanship.

Mark Davis and Matt Prior both fell for ducks while Martin-Jenkins, who is timing the ball well, was bowled by a pearler from Bicknell but only after making a classy 40 and guiding his side past 400.

Sussex have probably done enough already to insure themselves against defeat, but their hopes of forcing victory depend so much on their ability to unhinge Ramprakash and Bicknell this morning.