Laurie Evans hit his maiden Specsavers County Championship century for Sussex – and first in four years – to lead a final session fightback against Worcestershire at Kidderminster.

Evans came to the crease with Sussex in deep trouble but he and in-form captain Ben Brown rescued their side from 34-4 with a partnership of 157 in 37 overs.

Brown eventually departed for 64 – his sixth fifty plus in the last seven innings – but Evans was not to be denied his first hundred in the competition since moving from Warwickshire at the end of the 2016 season.

Often regarded as a white ball specialist, Evans demonstrated his capabilities in the longer format of the game as he completed the sixth first class century of his career.

He went to three figures off 140 balls with a cover drive off Worcestershire club captain Joe Leach for his 16th four in addition to hitting a six off Ross Whiteley over fine leg.

It could not have been better timed after Sussex’s early woes when faced with a first innings deficit of 128.

By the close they had recovered sufficiently to reach 236-5 – a lead of 108.

It initially went to plan for Worcestershire as Leach, Adam Finch, Ed Barnard and Parnell all picked up one wicket in reducing the visitors to 34-4.

Luke Wells (0) was lbw to the fifth ball of the innings from Leach whose new ball partner Finch forced Harry Finch (4) to chop onto his stumps.

Barnard added to Sussex’s woes when his first delivery forced a leading edge out of Will Beer (9) who lobbed up a simple return catch.

Stiaan van Zyl (18) then fell to a superb catch by Josh Dell at cover off Parnell.

But Parnell left the field clutching his left hamstring shortly afterwards and did not bowl again today.

Leach also had a spell on the side-lines with a spasm in his right buttock before returning to deliver a second spell deep into the final session.

Brown and Evans prospered and scored freely in reaching their half centuries in successive overs off 81 and 84 balls respectively.

Barnard broke through when Brown (64) top edged a catch to fine leg but Evans remained unbeaten on 106 at the close.

Worcestershire’s strength in depth with their batting line-up had been highlighted as they extended their overnight score from 262-6 to 383 all out during the morning session despite Ollie Robinson completing a five-wicket haul.

Sussex were able to take the second new ball immediately after the resumption and Robinson made the first breakthrough of the day when Cox (61) pushed forward and nicked through to keeper Ben Brown. His 105 ball knock contained seven fours.

Robinson struck again when D’Oliveira (31) was lbw with the total 296-8 but then Parnell followed up his first innings haul of four wickets by stretching the lead in partnership with Leach to sizeable proportions.

The ninth wicket pair added 68 in 15 overs before the Parnell was bowled by Luke Wells for 43.

Leach (54 not out) reached a half-century with a six over long on from Robinson in addition to eight fours.

But he was left unbeaten on 54 as Robinson completed a five wicket haul by bowling Finch (0) and ended with figures of 29.5-4-84-5.