Ed Joyce and Chris Nash stood firm to enhance Sussex’s hopes of salvaging a draw from their County Championship clash with Leicestershire at Hove.

The pair guided Sussex to 113-0 at the close of the third day as they set about making inroads into their daunting first innings deficit of 310.

Joyce completed his second half century of the game and passed 17,000 first class runs on his way to an unbeaten 62.

Nash was dropped by Paul Horton at first slip on nine off the bowling of Clint McKay and went on to reach 45 not out.

Earlier, Mark Pettini had made an unbeaten 142 as Leicestershire moved from 300-4 overnight to 473-8 when they declared 30 minutes before tea.

Pettini put on 143 for the first wicket with Niall O’Brien who hit 55 before being caught behind off the bowling of Steve Magoffin.

Magoffin also picked up the wicket of McKay to finish with figures of 3-58 while there was some late joy for leg-spinner Luke Wells who bowled both Wayne White and Ben Raine.