Rain denied Sussex the chance to build on their position of strength in their County Championship clash with Durham.

No play was possible after lunch due to heavy downpours which left the outfield at Hove saturated.

An early tea was taken with a further inspection planned for 4pm meaning there is a possibility Sussex will yet be able to build on their total of 505-9 today.

The weather added to a day that has turned into something of an anti-climax following the fireworks by Luke Wright and Ben Brown on the opening day.

Wright and Brown added just nine runs to their record-breaking partnership of 326 as Durham fought back well with the ball following their mauling the previous afternoon.

With rain also delaying the game by 45 minutes in the morning Sussex were only able to add 64 runs to their overnight score of 441-5 as they reached lunch on 505-9.

Wright surpassed his previous career-best first class score of 187 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Chris Rushworth for 189.

Ashar Zaidi’s poor start to the season continued as he fell in similar fashion to the same bowler for a duck two balls later.

Mark Wood then ended the near five-hour innings of Brown when he clipped his off bail. The Sussex wicketkeeper’s score of 163 was the highest by a No.7 in the club’s history.

James Anyon hit a quickfire 23 before he became Wood’s second victim of the morning but Steve Magoffin (15) and Jon Lewis (8) survived until lunch.