Tim Ambrose celebrated his maiden hundred at Hove with a beer last night and raised a glass to Sussex team-mate Murray Goodwin.

Ambrose made an unbeaten 101 while Goodwin scored 108 not out as the pair batted through a rain-affected third day in the Championship match at Hove. Sussex go into the final day on 256-3, a lead of 52.

Ambrose said: "Murray knows exactly what he's doing because he's been there a thousand times and he is great to learn from. I will be able to take things from the way he played and what he said and use them in the future. We had short-term goals, to make sure we were focused on each ball and that is exactly what partnerships are all about."

Coach Peter Moores had demanded his batsmen produce big partnerships and Goodwin and Ambrose's unbroken 204 together is the county's biggest of the season.

"We've talked about people batting together for time and winning sessions and that is what our plan was yesterday and it came off," added Ambrose.

"It's still a wicket you never feel in on because it is still doing a bit. David Masters bowled a superb spell early on yesterday and all we could do was try and get through that and not worry about runs so it was pleasing to see that off.

"If you don't concentrate for one ball that can get you out. At times you have to put runs out of your mind and just concentrate on batting time."