Sussex needed another disciplined performance from their bowlers as they chased victory in their opening Championship match against Middlesex at Lord's today.

The county extended their second innings for another 3.1 overs before they were bowled out for 204 this morning after bad light delayed the start of the third day's action for 35 minutes.

That left Middlesex needing 328 to win and the early indications were that the pitch was still giving plenty of assistance to the bowlers.

Both James Kirtley and Jason Lewry beat the bat on several occasions in their new ball spells, but Middlesex openers Andy Strauss and Sven Koenig were settling down to their task when Lewry made the breakthrough off the first ball of the ninth over.

The left-armer swung one away late down the Lord's slope and Koenig got a thick edge as he drove flat-footed through the off stump, Matt Prior diving low to his left to snaffle the edge.

Earlier Lewry was last out for eight as Sussex's last wicket pair extended their stand to 18 before he was caught behind aiming a big drive at Joe Dawes.

Kirtley was unbeaten on 25 and did the bulk of the scoring this morning including a sweetly-timed straight drive off Dawes which his team-mates higher up the order would have been proud of.

Sussex's last two wickets had added 58 and it was now up to their bowlers to make sure their first division campaign gets off to a winning start.

Sussex 239 (T R Ambrose 51) and 194-9 (R S C Martin-Jenkins 50; C B Keegan 4-27).

Middlesex 116 and 34-1 (13 overs)