Durham bowled Sussex out for 231, the same as their first innings score, and were 80-7 at the close of play on the third day at Arundel
Sussex resumed on 100-3 on day three at Arundel with the Durham attack bowling tightly, restricting their scoring opportunities early on and claiming their first wicket in the ninth over of the morning when Chris Rushworth trapped Murray Goodwin (18) lbw, with just 10 having been added to the overnight score.
Paul Collingwood caught Luke Wright (4) off the bowling of Ben Stokes three overs later with Sussex 119-5.
Michael Yardy and Ben Brown put on a determined 69 run partnership with Collingwood eventually breaking their rhythm when the former was trapped lbw on 66.
Sussex slumped to 221-9 after Wernars (10) and his replacement, Magoffin, were both out lbw to Callum Thorp within two deliveries, which was swiftly followed by Rushworth bowling Brown (51) the following over.
Monty Panesar hit a quickfire 10 before he was caught at mid off by Gordon Muchall, off the bowling of Rushworth, securing his fourth scalp of the innings. It was Callum Thorp, whose 4-35 was the pick of the innings as Sussex posted the exact same total as Durham’s first innings, 231.
Magoffin picked up two early lbw decisions with the visitors 6-2 after Mark Stoneman and Muchall were dismissed.
Ben Stokes was caught at mid wicket by Wright off Magoffin without scoring and the Durham total just in double figures.
With light showers halting play briefly, the break benefitted Sussex and James Anyon, who claimed his first wicket, that of Will Smith (12) who was caught behind. Durham fell to 29-5 when Benkenstein was caught behind on 14, becoming Magoffin’s fourth victim.
After a third rain break Wernars got in on the act when Mustard was caught by Nash for 6, leaving Durham 38-6.
A valuable 24 run partnership between Paul Collingwood and Scott Borthwick gave the total a much needed boost before the young spinner was caught behind off Wright on 3.
Rain brought play to a halt just before 5.30pm with Durham 80-7 (Collingwood 29* and Thorp 9*) and resumption wasn’t possible so play was abandoned for the day.
At the close of play Durhamccc.co.uk spoke to Paul Collingwood, who said, “I would say that we need a few more runs to get ourselves in a good position to win. It’s been a funny days cricket where we did a lot of good things with the ball, the amount of pressure we built and the skill levels were fantastic. We pretty much did everything that we spoke about, the boys worked hard.
“We would have liked the wicket to have broken up a little more if I’m honest but if we can get a lead of 120-130 or even 150 that would be magnificent, but we’re going to have to bat well to do that. The ball has nipped around pretty much all day and it isn’t easy to score runs.
“We’ve got to be honest withourselves, we’ve got to find ways to score runs and put the opposition under pressure. I am confident that the lads have got the skill levels and the belief that we can put teams under pressure.”