One down, nine to go. Sussex inched closer to their first ever Championship yesterday although it was hard work again for their bowlers on a rain-affected second day at Old Trafford.

The growing contingent of supporters who have arrived in Manchester hoping to see history made finally had an excuse to sing Sussex By The Sea when their side collected their first bonus point after Mal Loye was caught off a top-edged pull shortly after tea.

They need another nine points to make sure, but in reality one solid batting performance should be enough to secure the draw which will clinch the title with a game to play.

Lancashire, their innings buttressed by Stuart Law's seventh hundred of another prolific season, ended the second day on 368-5.

Even the elements are seemingly on Sussex's side. No play was possible before lunch on the first day and 61 overs were lost yesterday with Manchester cloaked in grey drizzle until mid-afternoon and the outfield damp.

Play finally began at 3pm and 40 minutes later it was time for tea. It was all too much for one disgruntled Lancashire supporter sitting at the Stretford End watching his side's hopes of a first title in 69 years disappear.

"What about the paying customer!" he cried as the players disappeared up the pavilion steps. He had a point.

For Mushtaq Ahmed the day proved just as frustrating. He switched to the Stretford End to bowl 14 overs either side of tea and conceded a miserly 32 runs. But that 100th wicket still eludes him.

He came desperately close in the 85th over when Law's booming off drive cannoned off the shoulder of Richard Montgomerie at silly point, the deflection dropping short of the diving Mushtaq.

It's been that sort of game for Mushtaq whose skills have been negated by a placid pitch. But it will still be a surprise if this turns out to be the only match of the season so far where he goes wicketless.

The moment that had the Sussex supporters bursting into song came half an hour after the interval when Loye, tied down by Robin Martin-Jenkins' metronomic accuracy, got under an attempted pull and Richard Montgomerie ran back from slip to take the catch.

Loye had made 144 from 245 balls with 16 fours and a six, helping Law add 241 in 62 overs for the third wicket.

After adding six to his overnight score to pass 1,000 runs the former Northamptonshire opener brought up the 200 partnership by sweeping effortlessly for four. What made the shot particularly memorable was that it came not off Mushtaq or even Mark Davis, but Billy Taylor.

At 307-3 it must be disconcerting for a bowling side to see Carl Hooper ambling down the pavilion steps. But as Martin-Jenkins and Mushtaq kept things tight and the light worsened, the West Indian played well within himself.

It was no surprise that, given Lancashire's need for victory, the batsmen turned down an offer to go off.

Hooper may have regretted the decision when Jason Lewry swung one late into the West Indian's pads.

Meanwhile, Taylor was wasting the new ball with a succession of bouncers at Law while carrying on a verbal exchange with the Queenslander in between deliveries.

Law, who has now scored centuries in his last three games against Sussex, appeared to have won the argument when he peered through the gloom to pull him for four and he resumes today on 131. Taylor was rewarded for finally pitching the ball up when he bowled Chris Schofield in the last over of the day.

Presumably once they have got to 400 this morning and accumulated maximum batting points Lancashire will declare and hope to bowl Sussex out twice.

Their success this season has been based on the prolific deeds of their batsmen. Loye's hundred was their 28th of the season, equalling a record set in 1934 when the red rose county last won the Championship outright while Law, Hooper, Mark Chilton and now Loye have all passed 1,000 runs.

Now it is up to their bowlers to try and at least delay Sussex their moment of triumph.

Sussex's hopes of forcing their first Second XI Championship win for three months were frustrated by rain as only 6.2 overs were possible on the second day of their final match against Lancashire at Lytham.

Lancashire, resuming on 144-5, added ten runs for no further loss before bad light and more rain ended play.

Sussex are desperate to end on a winning note, having lost four of their last five games.

If a full day's play is possible today, both sides are likely to forfeit an innings in order to bring about a contrived finish.