Yorkshire will face a nervy final week of the season in their fight against relegation if, as looks likely, their Championship match against Sussex at Hove ends in a draw.

Sussex forced the pace during yesterday’s third day thanks to Rory Hamilton-Brown’s brilliant 171 not out off 210 balls, posting a first innings total of 448 in reply to Yorkshire’s 403.

The 22-year-old batsman helped his side to a lead of 45, but it would have been a lot more had they not lost their last five wickets for 56.

David Wainwright confirmed career-best figures of 5-134 from 31.5 overs, while Ajmal Shahzad finished with 4-84 from 29.

The visitors then reached 147-2 in their second innings, which amounts to a lead of 102. Jacques Rudolph finished unbeaten on 70 off 124 balls.

The situation of the match means Yorkshire have an outside chance of forcing the pace to enable some time to try and bowl Sussex out for the win.

But their caution when far better placed going into the final day against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge recently suggests there is little chance of them attacking.

Whether or not Sussex captain Mike Yardy, whose side marginally need a win more than Yorkshire do, floats the idea of a contrived finish remains to be seen.

If that was to be the case, then the cards would have to be heavily stacked in Yorkshire’s favour.

Hamilton-Brown was superb as he recorded his maiden Championship 100 in only his fifth match.

He shared 128 in 32 overs with Murray Goodwin (63) for the fifth wicket and 99 for the sixth with Andrew Hodd, crunching 20 fours and two sixes along the way.

Wainwright, who had bowled Goodwin round his legs during the morning session, later claimed the last three wickets of Piyush Chawla, Corey Collymore and Jason Lewry to bag a maiden five-for.

Shahzad picked up the wickets of Hodd and Dwayne Smith.

Joe Sayers hit 31 off 58 balls to ensure Yorkshire wiped their deficit off before he was caught behind by Hodd off the bowling of Collymore.

He also ensured that he made it beyond 1,000 Championship runs in a season for the first time in his career.

Adam Lyth also recorded 31, but was bowled when trying to flick part-time left-arm spinner Yardy to leg.

This was Rudolph’s ninth score of 50 or more in Championship cricket this summer.