Andrew Hodd scored the third hundred of his career but the best news for Sussex yesterday was probably the arrival of Yasir Arafat.

Arafat flew in from Dubai last night after playing for Pakistan in their one-day series against Australia.

The need to add some more wheels to an attack was again evident on the third day against Durham as Sussex struggled on a slow pitch to stop the champions progress towards a declaration at some time today.

Arafat’s locum Damien Wright defied the discomfort of a side strain to smash 41 off 40 balls to help Sussex get to within 17 of Durham’s first innings 380.

But Sussex supporters could have seen the last of the Australian who was keen to play for another three weeks in June when Arafat links up with Pakistan again for the Twenty20 World Cup.

He is likely to be out for at least three weeks and Sussex will probably consider other options now for Arafat’s replacement.

An underpowered attack shouldered the burden manfully in Wright’s absence but by the close Durham had extended their advantage to 181 with opener Michael Di Venuto putting on unbroken third wicket stand of 97 with Gordon Muchall.

Durham are unlikely to declare until they have insured themselves against defeat and a seventh draw in the last nine Championship games at headquarters remains favourite.

Skipper Mike Yardy used seven bowlers with off-spinner Ollie Rayner, buffeted throughout by a gale-force wind, bowling 17 overs.

Rayner had Mark Stoneman well caught by Hodd and Smith was run out by the length of the pitch after a comical mix-up with Di Venuto and persevering Sussex never allowed the run rate to get abovd above three an over.

It was a day to remember, though, for Hodd, whose centuries have all been scored at Hove, although this is the first since the end of 2007.

If there were any nerves when he resumed on 84 with a new ball imminent after rain had delayed the start until 12.20pm it didn’t show as he moved into the 90s with a brace of fours, the second a flowing straight drive off Liam Plunkett was probably the pick of his 12 boundaries.

A nudge off his hips off Steve Harmison took him to three figures from 158 balls but he faced just three more deliveries before Plunkett pinned him on the back leg.

Hodd said: “I really enjoyed it. I came in at a bad time and we were up against a good bowling attack but Luke Wright batted with a good tempo on the second day and some of that rubbed off on me and I played more aggressively.

“It was disappointing to get to a hundred and then get out because we were looking to push on beyond 400 although the tail did really well to get us in a decent position.”

Harmison had the new ball in his hands by the time Hodd departed but the Sussex tail stood firm, not least Wright even though every forcing shot left him wincing in pain.

He fit five fours and plonked an incredulous Plunkett over long on for six while Rayner (25) gave him good support until he gloved Harmison’s lifter.

Sussex were still 18 runs short of a fourth batting point at that stage but Corey Collymore bravely kept an end up despite being felled by Harmison’s bouncer and totalling 363 after being 109-5 represented an impressive comeback and demonstrated that at Hove these days it is hard to bowl a side out when the ball isn’t swinging, even if you have a seam attack as good as Durham’s.

Hodd added: “It has been hard work for the bowlers, especially without Damo, but I thought we stuck at it and never allowed them to get away.

“The guys are quite tired but that’s the rigours of county cricket and we will need to be hard at it today because I can’t see Durham setting us a target.”