Northants within sight of victory at Wantage Road

Jason Brown claimed his 100th first-class wicket in only his 23rd match to help Northamptonshire close in on an emphatic victory against Sussex at Northampton.

The 25-year-old off-spinner picked up 6-70 as the visitors closed on 202-9 in their second innings, still 26 runs away from making Northants bat again.

And the match would have been over with a day to spare but for Tony Cottey's plucky 104 not out, including two sixes - the second of which completed his hundred - and 11 fours.

The home side batted on to reach 460 all out with Russell Warren (151) and Tony Penberthy (96) carrying their fifth-wicket stand to 204 in 72 overs until James Kirtley trapped Penberthy lbw.

Warren's eight-hour stay ended shortly before lunch when he top-edged a sweep off Umer Rashid, having hit a six and 21 fours, and the left-arm spinner proceeded to tidy up the tail and finish with 5-103.

Embarking on their second innings 228 behind, Sussex lost Richard Montgomerie to Darren Cousins for the second time in the game - and then the spinners went to work.

Graeme Swann's sixth ball had Wasim Khan caught at slip while Brown removed Toby Peirce with his third delivery and then nipped out Chris Adams and Robin Martin-Jenkins in the second over after tea to leave Sussex reeling at 69-5.

Cottey and Rashid (33) added 91 to hold Northants up, and despite the umpires enforcing the extra half-hour the visitors were able to survive into the fourth day.