Sussex withstood a menacing opening spell from James Anderson as they closed in on victory against Lancashire at Hove.

The England seamer bowled with real pace and aggression down the hill but could only pick up the wicket of Luke Wells before tea.

Chris Nash made his second half century of the match and put on 68 with Ed Joyce as Sussex reached the interval on 94-1.

That means they require a further 157 runs in 40 overs in the evening session having bowled Lancashire out for 364 shortly after lunch.

Victory would guarantee Sussex's place in division one of the Championship next season and push Lancashire closer to relegation.

Wells was disappointed to be given out for 13 after he was surprised by a short ball from Anderson. He was well caught by Steven Croft at second slip but his body language suggested it came off his shoulder rather than a glove.

Anderson also hit Joyce on the helmet as he steamed in down the hill for eight overs but the Sussex skipper was unrattled as he reached tea on 28 not out.

Nash followed up his encouraging performance in the first innings by reaching his 50 from 59 balls and will be determined to make a first century of the season to see the job through after tea.

Lancashire’s hopes of pulling off an unlikely win have not been helped by a back injury to Tom Smith which has prevented the seamer bowling so far.

Lancashire had only been able to stretch their lead to 250 with their final two wickets after lunch having resumed on 328-8.

Chris Jordan picked up his fourth wicket of the innings as he produced the perfect yorker to bowl Anderson for 20 while Luke Proctor was caught at deep midwicket off the bowling of Steve Magoffin.