Sussex seconds gained a useful first innings lead of exactly 100 runs by dismissing Essex for 229 in the Championship tussle at Horsham.
The hosts then lost Dominic Clapp for a duck on the way to reaching 31-1 second time around on a wicket which is slowly taking spin.
Sussex would have taken a tighter grip on the match but for a battling ninth-wicket stand of 75 between Barry Hyam (83) and Michael Davies (30 not out).
Off spinner Stephen Ades (3-56) and medium pacer Nick Creed (2-38) were soon among the wickets as Essex stumbled to 103-6.
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