Mark Robinson is hoping Sussex's luck will change today as they bid to take control of what could be a pivotal match in the title race.

Sussex's cricket manager could not hide his disappointment at some of the decisions his side received against Middlesex at Southgate yesterday.

Only an 88-run last wicket partnership between Yasir Arafat and Jason Lewry ensured Sussex crept over the 500 mark for the first innnings after being well placed at 374-5 overnight. They then endured a frustrating time in the field as Middlesex moved to 344-4 as several good appeals were waved away.

With title-rivals Lancashire struggling against Kent Robinson knows a positive result would put the county in the driving seat in division one.

He said: "We've not quite had the rub of the green. If a couple of decisions had gone our way we probably would have made more runs and had a few more wickets but sometimes the 50-50 ones go your way and sometimes they don't.

"It's not a case of sour grapes because it is all part and parcel of cricket but hopefully things will go our way a little in the rest of the match."

Arafat hit 67 runs from 75 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, to force the momentum of the match back Sussex's way after losing four quick wickets in the morning.

Luke Wright was bowled, not playing a shot, by Chris Silverwood in the first over and centurion Chris Adams was leg before to Johann Louw to a delivery that kept low. Ollie Rayner fell for a duck and Silverwood, who finished with 4-84, then had Mushtaq lbw before Lewry and Arafat's late onslaught.

Arafat made an early breakthrough with the ball, having Nick Compton leg before, but Middlesex then took control with Owais Shah (85), Ed Smith (75) and Ed Joyce (68) all contributing.