Sussex took only two wickets all day as Warwickshire fronted up to the highest division one score in this season’s LV County Championship.

Whereas Sussex’s mammoth 601-6 included four century-makers, the home side were able to stay in the game with an undefeated 103 by Laurie Evans, his first hundred in two years, and three individual half-centuries.

Former England batsman Jonathan Trott added 68, night-watchman Chris Wright 65 and later in the day Tim Ambrose scored 65 not out.

An enterprising and unbroken partnership of 160 by Evans and Ambrose eased the total up to 367-5, still 85 short of the 452 needed to avoid the follow-on but now close enough to believe that a commendable draw is within touching distance.