Sussex are being made to work hard for victory at Hove.

The hosts are being held up against Worcestershire by an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 79 by Ross Whiteley and Ed Barnard.

At lunch Worcestershire had reached 207-6.

Although conditions are currently excellent, rain is forecast to arrive in Hove at about 4pm.

Stand-in skipper Chris Nash took a tidy slip catch but dropped two further chances as the hosts remained four wickets short of victory.

They are seeking to repeat their innings defeat of Durham last time out at Hove.

Resuming on 124-4 – their first target to get to 267 and make Sussex bat again – Worcestershire lost two wickets for the addition of just four runs.

Ben Cox (3) was beaten by the extra bounce generated by Vernon Philander and edged to Nash, who took a chest-high catch at second slip.

Jofra Archer then bowled nightwatchman Josh Tongue (11), knocking back his off stump with a ball which jagged back off the seam.

But Whiteley and Barnard dug in, although the former was dropped by Nash on nine and 35, Chris Jordan and Archer the frustrated bowlers.

Nash appeared to damage his hand on the second of those chances, which came to him low down, and left the field.