Lancashire are hoping to put the finishing touches to an impressive County Championship victory against rivals Sussex at Hove today.

Stuart Law’s side are firmly in control of the game, with Sussex closing last night on 223-6 in their second innings. The hosts lead by 84 runs with just four wickets in hand going into the final day.

But Lancashire will be hoping that the rain forecast for the south coast does not arrive to scupper their plans of moving up a tightly-bunched LV Division One table.

The Red Rose county were bowled out early in morning for 392, falling just eight runs short of the maximum five batting bonus points.

Captain Law remained unbeaten on 158 to boost his first-class average in matches between the two counties to 112.7. And then Chapple produced a brilliant bowling display to take 4-49 from 21 overs to set the visitors on their way to 21 points.

Mahmood had Chris Nash caught by Steven Croft at a very wide third slip to leave the score at 36-1. And then Chapple, the all-rounder who is playing his first four-day game since April 23 because of injury, claimed Mike Yardy and Chris Adams in successive overs after lunch.

The 33-year-old had Yardy caught behind by Luke Sutton for 36, while Adams (22) chopped on for the second time in the match to put Lancashire in complete control at 89-3 on a flat pitch.

Francois Du Plessis later trapped Matt Prior lbw for 33 in his first over – and Chapple did the same to Carl Hopkinson. Former Zimbabwe international Murray Goodwin was the only home batsman to really look comfortable at the crease, finishing unbeaten on 77.

But Chapple also added Robin Martin-Jenkins to his wickets tally thanks to stunning catch from Croft. Andrew Flintoff bowled 19 wicketless overs, hitting Ollie Rayner on the head twice.