Goodwin Keeps Lancs At Bay
Goodwin - Providing Some Resistance.
Murray Goodwin's patience and poise kept title-holders Sussex battling to avoid a second successive LV County Championship home defeat as Lancashire established a 139-run first innings lead and then claimed six wickets on the third day.
Goodwin passed 10,000 career runs on his way to making 50 in 104 balls and was undefeated on 77 after more than three hours at the crease as Sussex reached 223 for six at stumps - just 84 ahead.
The Zimbabwean displayed splendid resistance to give Sussex hope of escape with heavy rain forecast for the final day, although Lancashire are still clear favourites to record only their second championship win of the season.
He ploughed on after losing Carl Hopkinson and Robin Martin-Jenkins - the Sussex first innings saviour with 70 - in quick succession in the final session, although it took Steven Croft's spectacular diving catch at point to dismiss the latter for a streaky 13.
Even England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, brought back for his third, wicketless spell, could not remove Goodwin or Ollie Rayner (nine).
But at 197 for six Sussex looked certain to succumb to the Lancashire attack and go down to the side they pipped on the final day of the campaign to retain the title last year.
Flintoff, who is still hoping to be selected on Thursday for an England comeback against South Africa next week despite recent injuries and poor form, got through 19 overs, in addition to his 15 in the first innings, for figures of none for 43.
Luck was on the hosts' side early on when third umpire Richard Illingworth ruled captain Chris Adams' nick off the last ball of Flintoff's sixth over before lunch had not quite carried to Paul Horton at slip.
And Sussex got the benefit of the doubt again after the interval when Matt Prior was ruled to have made his ground even though Croft's throw from square leg appeared to have run him out.
Both decisions still looked highly debatable on replay but although Adams's escape on five at 47 for one - opener Chris Nash having been removed by Sajid Mahmood 11 runs earlier - took him beyond lunch he could only advance to 22.
Despite hitting Flintoff for successive boundaries he played on to Glen Chapple, who finished with an impressive four for 49 in 21 overs having also taken the wicket of Mike Yardy for a hard-earned 36 after Flintoff had softened him up with a lively spell that included four maidens in his initial eight overs.
Goodwin and Prior stabilised Sussex on an enduringly flat pitch before the latter was eventually on the wrong end of what looked another dubious decision when umpire Tim Robinson gave him out lbw well down the pitch to South African Francois du Plessis's leg spin on 33.
Lancashire had started the day 129 ahead but lost their last two wickets for 10, leaving captain Stuart Law unbeaten on 158.
The Australian-born 39-year-old now has an amazing average of 126.5 for Lancashire in 10 innings at Hove - and 112.7 against Sussex.
Lancashire missed out on an extra batting point when their last wicket fell at 382.