Goodwin digs in but Warwickshire on top

Sussex 259 and 71 for 2 (f/o) v Warwickshire 521
Scorecard

Murray Goodwin narrowly missed out on a century as Sussex struggled to pull out of their slide towards defeat against Warwickshire on the third day of the County Championship meeting at Edgbaston.

After being propped up for more than four-and-a-half hours by Goodwin's defiant knock of 94, the south coast side were dismissed for 259 in their first innings and then made 71 for 2 after following on still 262 behind's the home side's total of 521. They will go into the final day trailing by 191 but with Ed Joyce perhaps offering some hope of an escape route if he can build on his unbeaten 42 so far.

Although without injured strike bowler Boyd Rankin, title-chasing Warwickshire still had sufficient resources to work their way through a brittle middle order when Sussex resumed their first innings on 103 for 3. Nightwatchman James Anyon departed after a loose drive to cover off Chris Woakes and Michael Yardy's search for form only led to disappointment with a mistimed pull which was comfortably held by the bowler, Rikki Clarke.

After the early breakthrough by the seamers, New Zealand offspinner Jeetan Patel provided a successful alternative in his unexpected appearance while Warwickshire await of the arrival of West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Patel, originally signed for the Friends Life t20 competition, bowled Andrew Hodd when the Sussex wicketkeeper shaped to cut but offered no shot, and next he had Olly Rayner neatly taken by Ian Porterfield at backward short leg.

Goodwin, meanwhile, played well within himself, cruising to his half-century with only five fours, and with seven wickets down for 183 he was able to build a worthwhile partnership with 21-year-old Will Adkin. One of the tallest players on the county circuit at 6ft 9in, Adkin was selected for this match as the third seamer, although it was as a batsman that he made an impact by scoring 45 against Surrey on his championship debut last summer.

An unflappable left hander with a sound technique, he put on 54 with Goodwin and made an unbeaten 29 in just over two hours before Sussex folded in mid-afternoon. A rash moment brought about Goodwin's downfall when he pulled Woakes (4 for 67) to deep midwicket and the last two wickets quickly fell to Andrew Miller and Patel (4 for 52).

Joyce slipped into Goodwin's role in the second innings but Warwickshire made some progress before bad light and rain ended the day. Patel took his fifth wicket of the match when Chris Nash (20) swept to deep square leg and Luke Wells was caught in the gully off Clarke.