Sussex were made to pay for a poor fielding display as Worcestershire ground out a slight advantage after the second day of their Championship clash at Hove.

Centurion Richard Oliver was put down twice by Craig Cachopa who also spilled a chance to get rid of Alexei Kervezee who made 93.

The pair made the most of those reprieves to help guide Worcestershire to 389 all out, a first innings lead of 44.

Sussex openers Ed Joyce and Luke Wells reduced that to 36 by safely negotiating the final three overs of the day without alarm.

However, a bad day was made worse for Sussex by Tymal Mills twice failing to complete an over due to injury while Ajmal Shahzad was restricted to just ten overs in the day.

The day had started well for Sussex with Matt Hobden picking up the wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Fell early on to reduce Worcestershire to 60-2.

Hobden should have added the wicket of Oliver only for Cachopa to put down a straightforward chance at first slip when the opener was on 58.

Oliver and Alex Gidman put on 73 for the third wicket before Steve Magoffin struck twice after lunch by trapping Gidman lbw for 29 and then having Tom Kohler-Cadmore caught in the slips for nine.

Oliver fell shortly after bringing up his second Championship hundred when he slapped Luke Wells straight to Luke Wright at short extra cover.

Wells struck again four balls later when Ben Cox was lbw sweeping for a duck before Kervezee and Gareth Andrew added 88 for the seventh wicket.

Cachopa’s miserable day in the field got worse when he spilled Kervezee on 72 off Magoffin before being moved out of the slip cordon.

Ed Joyce replaced him at first slip and it proved a wise move as he pouched Kervezee - off the bowling of Ajmal Shahzad – and Jack Shantry – off Magoffin.

Mills limped off to reduce Joyce’s bowling options and Worcestershire’s tail took advantage with Andrew finally falling to Hobden for 70 and Sachithra Senanayake blitzing a quickfire 32 before he was bowled by Ashar Zaidi.