Sussex face a tense finish tomorrow after Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry scored 79 on an exciting third day at the Ageas Bowl.

Sussex were bowled out for a miserly 164 - after earlier deciding against enforcing the follow-on - to set Hampshire an improbable 378 for victory.

But Hampshire ended the day on 181-4 with 197 required to win on the final day, thanks in part to Carberry's gung-ho 86-ball 79.

Carberry and Jimmy Adams set about the colossal total at a steady four an over, both crashing boundaries under the solid blue sky - putting on 76 for the opening stand.

Tymal Mills bowled with extreme pace and deserved the wicket of Adams - sending the Hampshire captain's off stump sprawling.

Left-hander Carberry looked on top form as he crashed a hooked six and a cut four to bring up his 54th first-class half century - from 63 balls.

The England man had a let off when he mistimed a Mills bouncer but the ball slipped through a diving Ajmal Shahzad's hands, before producing a Gordon Greenidge-esque one-legged pull for four.

Carberry was unlucky to depart when Joyce stuck out his right paw at slip to cling on to a clipped late cut - the batsman falling for an 86-ball 79 including 13 fours and a six.

James Vince came and went for nine before Liam Dawson somehow managed to play on, as the ball dramatically spun back and flick the bail off - both falling to Shahzad late in the evening.

Earlier, Hampshire concluded their first innings in the morning as Joyce ran out James Tomlinson with a direct hit - and left Sean Ervine unbeaten on 66.

With the home side trailing by 213 it proved a shock decision when Sussex skipper Ed Joyce decided against enforcing the follow-on.

Tomlinson found Luke Wells' edge which flew to Vince at third slip - after putting on 24 for the first wicket - and then Michael Yardy feathered behind the next delivery.

Danny Briggs produced a brilliant catch to see off Joyce.

Nash looked settled after he scored 21 from 48 balls but left-armer Chris Wood managed to get him lbw. Craig Cachopa and first-innings centurion Ben Brown fell soon after.

Hampshire looked set to skittle through the Sussex order, leaving them 71-6, but a 73-run partnership between Wright and Shahzad stalled the collapse.

Sussex batsman Wright scored a fine second 50 of the game after scoring 96 in the first innings, with a single after 71 balls.

Shahzad departed in the 45th over when he swept to Will Smith at silly mid-on, before Briggs found the edge of Wright's bat when he came bouncing down the track - the 30 year-old departing for 61 from 87 balls.

Mills swung across the line to give Dawson his first wicket of the season before Briggs bowled Matt Hobden - to give him match figures of seven for 110.

A positive result is almost assured on the final day, as both Hampshire and Sussex will feel like they could win with the former still requiring 197 with six wickets remaining.