Sussex 430 all out (113.4 overs)
Leicestershire 328 all out (88.4 overs) and 154-4 (56 overs)
Leicestershire (5 points) lead Sussex (7 points) by 52 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Half centuries by Leicestershire’s Rishi Patel and Jonny Tattersall frustrated Sussex who had taken a first innings lead of 102 and at one stage fancied their chances of winning the match in three days.
Twenty-five overs were lost to a combination of rain and bad light on a cold and blustery third day at the County Ground, Hove.
But Leicestershire, who at one stage were 37-3, still 65 runs behind, were pulled round by Patel (56) and Tattersall (54 not out).
Sussex started the day on 386-8, 58 runs ahead, and John Simpson, 89 not out overnight, was the main aggressor as they extended their lead.
Ollie Robinson had added only four when he sliced a drive to backward point but Simpson, supported by Henry Crocombe, went on to score his second century of the season.
When Crocombe was last out, for 13, with the score on 430, Simpson was unbeaten on 114. He faced 141 deliveries and hit 13 fours and two sixes.
It was his 21st first-class century and, remarkably, his 12th since joining Sussex in 2024. He played for Middlesex from 2009-23.
When Leicestershire batted again, their impressive openers, Rishi Patel and Jake Weatherald, looked comfortable. But then they lost three quick wickets before lunch.
Robinson, who bowled outstandingly well without much luck in Leicestershire’s first innings, looked set for more frustration. But then he moved a full-length delivery into Weatherald and the batsman, driving extravagantly, lost his off-stump.
Leicestershire lost their second wicket in the next over when Sol Budinger received a fine delivery from Fynn Hudson-Prentice which pitched on off-stump, straightened and trimmed the off bail.
Leicestershire captain Ian Holland fell just five runs later. Crocombe, who had replaced Robinson at the north end of the ground, bowled a wide delivery and Holland appeared to be taking his bat away from danger when he edged it. Tom Clark took a fine low catch at second slip.
While all this was going on, Patel was batting with stylish aggression at the other end. But, having added 66 for the fourth wicket with the solid looking Tattersall, he was out, driving a Clark away swinger to cover-point.
His 89-ball 56 included six fours and a straight six, when he jumped down the wicket to hit Jack Carson down the ground. Patel took the attack to Carson, whose opening six-over spell went for 36.
But Tattersall found another strong partner in Steve Eskinazi, who was twice struck painful blows on the hand on his way to an unbeaten 26.
When the players left the field for the last time, at 5.30pm, the visitors were 154-4, with Tattersall having faced 128 deliveries.
