Veteran Duo Give Lancashire A Sniff
Cork - valuable 43.
A ninth-wicket partnership of 78 between Lancashire's veteran all-rounders Glen Chapple and Dominic Cork frustrated county champions Sussex at Old Trafford.
Sussex had the LV County Championship Division One clash in the bag at tea on the third day with Lancashire leading by just 71 runs with only two second-innings wickets in hand.
The Red Rose had slumped to 181 for eight as they attempted to overhaul a first-innings deficit of 110.
Left-arm swing bowler Jason Lewry claimed three wickets while Robin Martin-Jenkins and Ollie Rayner took two each.
Lancashire captain Stuart Law top-scored for the hosts with 73 as their batting woes continued - they have only passed 400 once this season.
The hosts were finally bowled out for 285 after the entertaining heroics of Chapple and Cork.
And Sussex openers Chris Nash and Mark Thornely nervously edged their way to 14 for nought after 10 overs in pursuit of 176 to win.
Lancashire, who were nine for one overnight, had slumped to 14 for three and later 54 for four.
Iain Sutcliffe recorded a gritty 25 but nobody else passed 20 until Law and wicketkeeper Luke Sutton got together and shared 67 for the seventh wicket.
While Lewry was accurate as he finished with figures of three for 39 from his 20.1 overs, off-spinner Rayner was again impressive to add the wickets of Sutcliffe and Steven Croft to a first-innings haul of five for 65.
Law's innings of 73 came off 150 balls with seven fours and Sutton battled for 34 off 83 balls.
But when both went before tea, caught by Thornely off the bowling Lewry and Mushtaq, the game seemed over.
However, Chapple carved out an unbeaten 52 off 74 balls with five fours and a six. Cork scored quicker than a run a ball to notch 43 off 36 balls with five fours and two maximums.
Cork, who has not been offered a new contract for next season at Old Trafford, and Chapple both took a liking to Sussex spin duo Rayner and Mushtaq. At one stage they blasted the pair for 61 runs in seven overs.
Cork hit two sixes, a four and a two in one Rayner over but was caught at mid-off by Luke Wright off Mushtaq.
Sajid Mahmood was the last man to depart when he was run out backing up at the non-striker's end by Lewry.
Chapple and Cork began their bowling effort with three consecutive maidens on a wearing pitch. And Sussex opener Nash was even dropped by Croft at gully on nought off the bowling of Cork.
The weather forecast for Manchester is not good tomorrow as Sussex require another 162 to win.