Ed Joyce admits Sussex face a battle to clinch victory over Surrey today.

A nine-hour double hundred by Luke Wells left Surrey facing a fourth-day battle to avoid defeat at The Oval.

Wells continued to dominate proceedings with a career-best 208 as Sussex amassed 526 for a first-innings lead of 175. Surrey were 66-1 overnight, a deficit of 109.

Skipper Joyce added: “We have given ourselves a chance but it is a very slow track so it is going to be very difficult to bowl them out.

“Graeme Smith will obviously be a big wicket and Gary (Wilson) made a century in the first innings so if we can get them out and expose their middle order it could be interesting.”