Old Trafford rain has last word

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Old Trafford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, FINAL DAY: Match Drawn. Lancashire 236 and 0-0, Sussex 240 (Lancs 8pts, Sussex 8pts)

Match scorecard

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The weather had the final word at Old Trafford as Lancashire's rain-affected match with Sussex finally ended in an inevitable draw.

Sussex moved on from their overnight 1119-1 to 240 all out, skipper Mike Yardy on 86 to help his side earn a four-run first-innings lead.

Saj Mahmood took 4-87, backed by three wickets apiece for fellow seamers Kyle Hogg and Oliver Newby.

Sussex move up to sixth, both sides picking up eight points apiece.

But, in a desperately tight relegation battle, they are just a point ahead of both Hampshire and Yorkshire, who will go back above them on Sunday evening.

Sussex return south knowing that they still have tense championship matches against fellow relegation candidates Warwickshire and Yorkshire to come.

With 167 overs lost to rain in the previous three days and another 15 claimed by bad light and drizzle on Saturday morning, both teams only had bonus points to play for.

But Lancashire will be by far the more satisfied side thanks to the dynamic display by the home seamers which restricted Yardy's side to just one batting bonus point.

At one stage during the final afternoon, Sussex were 190-3 and looking looked well placed to overtake Lancashire's first innings score of 236.

But a careless waft by Yardy gave Newby his first wicket of the afternoon and began a spell of 31 deliveries in which five wickets fell.