Rayner rubs salt in Sussex's wounds (From The Argus)

Rayner rubs salt in Sussex's wounds

6:00pm Friday 1st June 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Ollie Rayner came back to haunt his former club with a swashbuckling innings to add to Sussex's woes at Lord's.

The off-spinner made 69 and shared in a partnership of 52 with Gareth Berg as Middlesex stretched their lead past the 200 mark on the third day of the County Championship match.

Toby Roland-Jones also made a maiden half century in a stand of 76 with Rayner before Middlesex were finally dismissed for 490 after tea, a lead of 208.

Sussex lost opener Ed Joyce as they reached 34-1 before bad light brought a premature end to the day.

Luke Wright had given Sussex a good start in the morning when he dismissed Chris Rogers two short of his century when only 20 runs had been added to the overnight total of 229-3.

Eoin Morgan followed for 71 before Berg and Rayner took the game away from Sussex after lunch.

Sussex did not help their cause by putting down three catches, skipper Mike Yardy putting down John Simpson and Tim Murtagh and Steve Magoffin missing an opportunity to get rid of Rayner.

Rayner brought of his 50 with a four off Magoffin and went on to launch Yardy for a six before holing out to Wright at long on off the bowling off Nash.

Nash also brought Roland-Jones's innings to an end to finish with figures of 3-45.

Berg then showed Sussex how catches should be taken when he held on to a sharp chance at gully to remove Joyce for eight.

The umpires came to Sussex's rescue by taking them off with 12 overs of the day still remaining with Nash on 18 and Joe Gatting on four.

They still trail by 174 and will need to bat for the majority of the final day on Saturday to escape with a draw.