Sussex are hoping to salvage at least a draw on the final day of their LV= Insurance County Championship second division match against Derbyshire at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove.

Derbyshire, who the toss and elected to bat, were 127 for seven in their second innings at the end of day three yesterday. After opting to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on, they lead overall by 341 runs after posting 551 for eight declared in their first innings before dismissing Sussex for 337.

Sussex will need to take the last three wickets quickly to have any chance of pulling off victory on the final day when they could be chasing in excess of 350.

Derbyshire were led by Wayne Madsen’s 176 in 349 minutes on the opening day, while Anuj Dal added 146 in 335 minutes with 16 fours in the middle order as Sussex had a long day in the field. Half-centuries came from middle-order bat Luis Reece (52) and No 10 Mark Watt (55 not out).

Delray Rawlins continues to enhance his bowling reputation with Sussex, leading their bowling in the first innings with figures of three for 129 from 31 overs. It was the most overs bowled by any of the seven Sussex bowlers used.

Rawlins, batting at No 7, then scored 37 from 57 balls with six fours and a six. He was at the crease for 53 minutes before falling to the second over of the new ball.

Mohammad Rizwan led the Sussex batting with 130 at No 4. The Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, who has ceded the gloves for this match, was at the crease for 322 minutes and hit 22 boundaries off 227 balls.

Wicketkeeper Oli Carter scored 56 and Tom Alsop 44 as Sussex passed 300 in their reply.

Derbyshire struggled in their second innings, reaching 127 for seven at the close of the third day with Reece scoring 42 not out and opener Shan Masood 37.

Jack Brooks and Sean Hunt, who shared the new ball, took the seven wickets between them, Brooks finishing with five for 46 from ten overs and Hunt two for 23 off nine. Rawlins, the fifth bowler used, gave up 19 runs in ten overs with three maidens.