There were times at Hove yesterday when it appeared as if two games were going on – one involving Worcestershire’s Matt Mason and one not.

Had it not been for the 6ft 5in seamer, Sussex would be closing in on a precious Championship victory. On the other hand, had Worcestershire been able to give the Australian the support he deserved Sussex could have been hurtling towards a costly defeat.

Mason, who played in the Sussex League earlier in his career, took his second seven-wicket haul of the season, finishing with 7-60 from 30 overs.

Yet Sussex were able to establish a first-innings lead of 24 thanks to Andrew Hodd’s 73 – the only half-century of the match so far – and some good support from the lower-middle order as Sussex recovered from 101-6.

They then removed Worcestershire’s top four in the final session leaving the Pears just 47 runs ahead going into the third day.

Significantly, Sussex’s fightback began when Mason took his sweater after an outstanding first spell of 12-6-16-4. When he returned after lunch he immediately ended a stand of 69 in 18 overs for the seventh wicket by removing Luke Wright to a slip catch.

Hodd continued the recovery by putting on 78 in 21 overs with Yasir Arafat which took Sussex to within eight runs of first-innings parity but when Mason came back for a third spell armed with the new ball he had Hodd caught at slip with his fourth delivery.

It was an outstanding effort by the 35-year-old from Perth. The pitch offered decent carry but it was his control of length and ability to harness the swing on a sultry day which was particularly impressive.

The trouble for the Pears was Mason could not bowl at both ends. Gareth Andrew persevered and finished with two wickets but Imran Arif and debutant Mehraj Ahmed were expensive and with the pitch showing little signs of deterioration Sussex will fancy their chances of chasing anything around 250.

They were indebted to Hodd whose third half-century of the season contained 11 fours.

The tone for Mason’s morning was set with his second ball when he pinned nightwatchman Ollie Rayner. Mike Yardy was yorked and Murray Goodwin nibbled fatally outside off stump. Goodwin only made 21 but he’s only bettered that score twice in his last 13 innings.

Carl Hopkinson’s careless drive proved costly but Wright and Hodd played sensibly and the attack made four important incisions when Worcestershire went in again.

It leaves Sussex slight favourites at the halfway stage, although they would love someone to seize the initiative today in the same way that Mason did.

Meanwhile, A depleted Sussex 2nd XI dismissed Somerset for 351 on the opening day of the Championship clash at Taunton.

Pace bowler David Stiff struck an early blow for Somerset by dismissing Michael Thornely (2) as Sussex reached 14-1 in reply. Trialist Craig Smith took 3-81 for Sussex whose bowling options were stretched with Will Beer, Rory Hamilton-Brown and James Kirtley having been recalled to Hove ahead of Saturday’s Twenty20 finals day.