Michael Burgess is pleased to be off the mark – but he would have loved to have stuck around longer for Sussex.

The county closed a rain-affected third day on 194-6 replying to Warwickshire’s 299 at Edgbaston.

Olly Stone took all six Sussex wickets to fall although the contest looks destined for a draw.

Stone dismissed Luke Wells and Luke Wright with successive deliveries before Ben Brown survived the hat-trick ball.

Burgess, who helped his skipper steady things, said: "I was pleased to score some runs, though disappointed to get out when I did, just as rain was starting to fall.

“Olly Stone bowled quite quickly and well and they just had one of those spells where we seemed to keep nicking them and they seemed to keep catching them.

"I went in at an interesting time when a few wickets had gone down and said to Ben, ‘Let's just see it through to lunch and then go again’ and we managed to do that.

“I like to be positive and if a ball is there to hit, I'll hit it, and a couple came along early on which I managed to put away.

“I like batting with Ben because he is strong and confident and always talking to you."

Stone's home Specsavers County Championship debut for Warwickshire has been a while coming but the 24-year-old seized the moment and has overnight figures of 13-1-52-6.

After resuming on the third morning on 284-9, Warwickshire ended one run short of a third batting point. Tim Ambrose (81, 116 balls, ten fours) and Chris Wright (27 not out, 80 balls, four fours) took their tenth-wicket stand to 77 in 22 overs before the former nicked a superb leg-cutter from Ishant Sharma.

Sharma, making his Sussex debut, ended with 3- 53 and David Wiese 4- 56.

In reply, Sussex advanced to 30 without loss, Phil Salt launching their reply with a crisp 29 (35 balls, four fours), before Stone came on and dismissed him with his second ball, leading-edged to point.

Then came a sensational burst of 4-11 in 13 balls from the Norfolk-born player.

Stiaan van Zyl, Wells and Wright (first ball) edged behind and Harry Finch top-edged a pull straight upwards and watched it land in the hands of short-leg Sam Hain. Sixth-wicket pair Brown and Burgess executed a fightback with a stand of 78 in 18 overs before Stone returned to end Burgess's forceful innings (48, 45 balls nine fours) via a fourth catch for wicketkeeper Ambrose.

Brown defied impressively and was still unbeaten on 43 (89 balls, five fours) at the close.

With solid support from Ollie Robinson, he skilfully negotiated an awkward late eight-over session which started at 6.10pm.