Sussex face an uphill battle to avoid a second consecutive defeat in the County Championship after Middlesex strengthened their position at Lord's on the second day.

Chris Rogers made an unbeaten 93 while there were half centuries for Joe Denly and Eoin Morgan as Middlesex reached 229-3 when bad light brought an early finish to proceedings.

That leaves them just 54 runs behind with seven wickets in hand after Sussex did well to reach 283 in their first innings.

The day had started well for Sussex as their tailenders added a further 41 runs to their overnight total of 242-8.

Steve Magoffin and James Anyon secured a second batting point before Anyon chopped a ball from Tim Murtagh on to his leg stump to give the seamer his fifth wicket.

Monty Panesar's entertaining innings of 15 came to an end when he steered a delivery from Gareth Berg to Ollie Rayner at second slip leaving Magoffin unbeaten on 18.

Magoffin then trapped Sam Robson lbw for a duck in the second over of Middlesex's reply as they reached lunch on 32-1.

Joe Denly was dropped twice in single figures by Joe Gatting and Ed Joyce in the slip cordon off the bowling off the luckless Anyon.

Anyon also beat the edge of Denly's bat numerous times and the former Kent made the most of his fortune as he and Chris Rogers put on 145 for the second wicket.

Panesar eventually broke their partnership shortly before tea when Denly was given lbw for 67 offering no stroke and three balls later Anyon removed Dawid Malan for one.

Middlesex reinforced their dominance after tea though as Rogers and Morgan added 70 runs without further loss.

Morgan brought up his half century with consecutive fours off Anyon before the umpires took them off for bad light with six overs of the day remaining.