County Championship: Essex fight back against Sussex with Graham Napier's five-wicket haul
- From the section Counties
| Specsavers County Championship Division Two, 1st Central County Ground |
| Sussex v Essex, day three |
| Sussex 360 & 282-9: Nash 92; Napier 5-86, Porter 4-82 |
| Essex 320: Westley 86, Ryder 51, Ten Doeschate 51; Magoffin 2-52 |
| Sussex lead by 322 runs |
| Sussex 7 pts, Essex 6 pts |
| Match scorecard |
Graham Napier's five-wicket haul gave Essex hope of an unlikely victory, after Sussex collapsed at Hove.
Ryan ten Doeschate (51) and Napier's (45) 89-run eighth-wicket stand helped Essex post 320 - a deficit of 40 runs.
Sussex opener Chris Nash hit 92 and Matt Machan made 47 as the hosts raced to 165-2, but Napier (5-86) dismissed the pair as they fell to 242-9.
Jamie Porter also picked up four wickets, as Sussex closed on 282-9, a lead of 322 runs.