WICKET: Worcs 71-4 (29.2)

We might have just seen the critical moment of this match as Solanki is lbw plonk in the final over of the day to Arafat in a carbon copy of Smith's dismissal. And he knew it - shuffling off before the ump had his finger up. So Worcs go into day three effectively 47-4 with Moeen Ali 2 not out. Good session for Sussex and another entertaining day. See you in the morning for more coverage from Hove.

WICKET: Worcs 64-3 (23.4)

Arafat returns for a second spell and gets a wicket in his second over as Ben Smith is leg before trying to work a straightish ball through mid-wicket. Suggestion that it kept a tad low but no doubt in umpire Lloyds' mind. He takes a 3-1 lead over Mark Benson in the fire 'em out race. Solanki 26, Moeen Ali with him and Sussex would love to prise another one out tonight.

WICKET: Worcs 48-2 (17.4)

Wright's in on the act again and he's got the key wicket of Moore. Shortish ball which Moore tried to shovel backward of square but it might have been on him a touch sooner than he expected and he's ended up hitting it down Goodwin's throat at deep mid-wicket. Solanki 16, Ben Smith with him and Sussex would love to prise another one out tonight.

WICKET: Worcs 22-1 (10.3)

Mitchell goes for 13. He propped forward in RMJ's second over but the ball was pretty straight and umpire Lloyds has fired him out pdq. Moore 9, Vikram Solanki the new batsman but it has just started to rain so we may be off. Quite gloomy as well.

SUSSEX 280 ALL OUT (85.1)

RMJ goes for 18, caught at slip slashing at a ball from Andrew which was too close to him for the shot. Collymore finished 4 not out so Sussex have a lead of 24. Tea now, 30 overs for Worcs to negotiate before the close. Good game this.

WICKET: Sussex 266-9 (81.2)

New ball taken by Mason and with his fourth ball he finds the edge and Hodd goes for 73, caught low down at slip by Mitchell. Mason now has 7-51. RMJ 9 and Corey Collymore is with him now.

Sussex 261-8 (79)

Sussex in the lead and RMJ has just embellished it with the shot of the day, a back foot force through mid on for four from RMJ who is 7. Hodd 70 and Sussex have gone in front, a scenario you couldn't have envisaged at 101-6. New ball due next over.

WICKET: Worcs 248-8 (74)

Tame end to a good innings by Arafat who tried to dab a ball from Batty down to third man and was caught behind. He made 32 leaving Hodd 64 not out and RMJ in now with Sussex nine runs away from establishing a first-innings lead. Important partnership this.

Sussex 241-7 (71.5)

Worcs waiting for the new ball so it's Mitchell and Batty at the moment. Hodd 57, Arafat 31 but the bowlers are keeping it reasonably tight.

Sussex 221-7 (63.1)

Mason must be knackered. This is his 21st over of the day and Davies has taken to standing up to him in this over. Now Hodd has just belted him through point to bring up his 50, the first of the match from 85 balls with 10 fours. Stand with Arafat, who is 20, is now worth 51. The problem for Worcs is that no one seems capable of supporting Mason. Mitchell is having a go now from the sea end with his trundlers.

WICKET: Sussex 190-7 (56)

Mason's back after lunch and in the second over of his post-lunch spell he has Wright caught at second slip by Ben Smith for 38 as he drove expansively at a ball which moved a bit off the seam. Good innings by Wright and a stand of 67. Hodd is 34 and Arafat 7 and Mason now has figures of 6-32. It's as if there are two games going on here: the one involving MM and another when he's now bowling. Andrew since lunch from the sea end.

Lunch: Sussex 160-6 (50)

Wright, 37, and Hodd, 21, have steadied the ship with a stand now worth 59 in 14 overs. Worcester attack without Mason looks pretty ordinary. His figures this morning were superb incidentally: 12-6-16-4. Jimmy Anderson apart, no one has bowled better for the oppo at Hove this season.

Afternoon Ryfish. Worcs would definitely have batted first. Mason apart, their bowling has been pretty ordinary and they knew that before the game started. Sussex will do well to get first-innings parity the way things are. Any lead will indeed be "precious".

Sussex 132-6 (42)

Mason takes his sweater after bowling 12 overs this morning and taking four wickets. No surprise that batting has become a little easier since with this stand now worth 31. Wright on 21 and Hodd 9 and it's Imran Arif at the Cromwell Road end with Andrew back for a second spell in place of the expensive Mehraj Ahmed.

WICKET: Sussex 101-6 (35)

Hopkinson out for 19 and that is a really poor shot. Threw the bat to a ball outside off stump and a big thick edge is taken by Solanki at second slip. Fifth wicket for Mason. The funny thing is that if he hadn't got Goodwin when he did he would have been taken off. Now he's struck in successive overs and Sussex are in the cart again. Wright 4, Hodd 0.

WICKET: Sussex 101-5 (33.4)

Spoke too soon. Goodwin's gone for 21, pushed forward to Msson and got a thin nick to Mitchell who took the catch low down at slip. Sympathetic round of applause from the crowd for Goodwin as he made his way back. Hopkinson 19 and Wright off the mark with four over backward point off Mehraj, who has been a bit expensive.

Sussex 78-4 (31)

Mason and Andrew still steaming in but the fifth wicket pair have put on 24 now and are settling down. Goodwin unleashed one of his trademark square cuts and is 15 with Hopkinson 9. Lot of hard work ahead though and Mehraj Ahmed is about to replace Andrew.

WICKET: Sussex 54-4 (20.2)

Mason again as Yardy goes for 29, beaten by a yorker which knocked back middle stump. Goodwin is 1 and Carl Hopkinson is with him. In case you're wondering Sussex need 107 to avoid the follow on.

WICKET: Sussex 51-3 (16.2)

Bad start for Sussex as Rayner goes to the second ball of the day, fired out by umpire Benson leg before. Not even a big stride by the 6ft 5in Rayner could save him, it looked a harsh decision from our eerie side on. Yardy got three off the first ball to move to 27 and Murray Goodwin is in with him now.

Good morning and welcome to a sunny, warm Hove for day two of Sussex versus Worcestershire in the County Championship.

Sussex will resume on 48-2 in reply to Worcestershire's first innings 256 with Mike Yardy 24 and nightwatchman Ollie Rayner 8.

Big day this for Sussex who will be hoping to establish a decent first innings lead, although the Worcs' seamers did enough last night to suggest there is still some assistance in this pitch for them.

Intriguing day ahead, I feel.

We start at 10.45am and don't forget you can leave your comments below.