Murray Goodwin continued his impressive start to the season as he put Sussex in a strong position to push for victory against Surrey at Hove over the weekend.

Goodwin followed up knocks of 30 and 83 in the opening win at Glamorgan to help Sussex build a first innings lead of 73 with three wickets remaining.

Surrey added only six to their overnight total of 199-7 but then hit back with the ball as they reduced Sussex to 26-2 during a turgid morning session.

Goodwin and Luke Wright swung an intriguing, if low scoring, match in Sussex’s favour after lunch to hint he is back to his best following a miserable 2009.

Jade Dernbach picked up two quick wickets near the end to give Surrey hope but the day very much belonged to Goodwin who only passed 50 twice in the Championship last season.

Skipper Mike Yardy said: “It was a battle of attrition but we applied ourselves really well and have got a good lead to build on.

“The pitch was slow and low which made it hard to score runs but both Murray and Luke played fine innings to put us on top.

“It was disappointing to lose a couple of wickets in the last hour but overall we have got to be pretty pleased.”

Goodwin made batting look simple after lunch following a morning session when the bowlers were very much on top.

Rana Naved gave Sussex the best possible start when he removed Andre Nel and Iftikhar Anjum with the first two balls of the day.

Dernbach denied him a hat-trick but Sussex did not have to wait long to wrap up the Surrey innings as Robin Martin-Jenkins trapped Chris Schofield lbw to complete only his eighth first class five wicket haul.

It meant Surrey had lost their last four wickets for just seven runs and was quite a contrast to last season when Sussex’s problems in cleaning up the tail played a big part in their relegation from division one.

Sussex soon discovered how tricky batting was as they limped to 29-2 from 22 overs by lunch, with Yardy taking 26 balls to get off the mark.

It might not have been pretty to watch but Yardy’s innings was an important one as he held things together after Chris Nash and Joe Gatting departed cheaply.

At one point it seemed Yardy was intent on beating the record for the slowest Championship 50 set by Arun Harinath the previous day as he was completely overshadowed in a 117 run partnership with Goodwin.

A 41st century for Sussex looked on the cards for Goodwin until he fell for 74 shortly before tea when he was bowled by Gareth Batty’s doosra.

Yardy’s marathon innings eventually came to an end after four hours and 18 minutes when he was trapped lbw by Chris Schofield for 68.

At that stage the game was in the balance once again but Wright ensured it was Sussex’s day with a brisk 63 which took him just 68 balls, compared to Yardy’s 157, and included a brutal six off Batty.

The England all-rounder looked to be taking the game away from Surrey until he attempted to hit Anjum for a third four in the space of five balls and skied a catch to Schofield at mid on.

Surrey fought their way back into the game near the end as Dernbach bowled both Andrew Hodd and Michael Thornely with the new ball to leave Sussex on 278-7 at stumps but the home side remain in the driving seat.