Sussex's Championship game against Lancashire looks like being consigned to a soggy draw after the third day was badly affected by rain.

A total of 167 overs have now been lost after just 28.2 were possible at Old Trafford today when Sussex advanced from 11-0 to 119-1.

Skipper Mike Yardy is 64 not out and Ed Joyce unbeaten on 34, their stand worth 91 runs in 24 overs so far.

Yardy reached his fifth half-century of the season and played stylishly but play was only possible in four mini sessions because of showers after the resumption had been delayed until 3.30pm.

The only wicket to fall was debutant Joe Gatting who had no answer to a stinging yorker from Sajid Mahmood which knocked over his middle and off stumps after Gatting had scored 10.

With a day to go Sussex will look to accumulate as many batting points as possible to give themselves some breathing space in the relegation battle at the bottom of the first division.