David Wiese & Stiaan van Zyl put Sussex in command on day three

Sussex are in prime position to claim their first Specsavers County Championship Division Two win of the season, requiring another 68 runs to beat Durham at Emirates Riverside on the final day.

David Wiese put his team in contention by producing a fine spell of bowling to claim five wickets, dismissing the home side for 189 in their second innings. Gareth Harte scored 74 vital runs for the north-east outfit to set a decent chase of 212 for the visitors.

Stiaan van Zyl dropped anchor after Durham made early inroads. The South African scored an unbeaten half-century to put his team within sight of victory at the close, leaving the home side in need of a dramatic turnaround on day four.

🎥 REPLAY: A nerveless innings from @laggies74 so far, putting us in a really strong position as day three draws to a close. Stiaan's 47th first-class 50. #gosbts pic.twitter.com/uyWEwqrLGr

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 13, 2019

Durham began day three poorly as Alex Lees fell from his first delivery of the morning, edging behind to Ben Brown off Wiese. It would be theme of the opening session as the visitors were able to take command.

Mir Hamza made further inroads for the visitors, claiming the vital wicket of Cameron Bancroft. The Aussie played a loose drive and was caught behind for 22, while Jack Burnham was pinned lbw for five. At 70-4, Durham were in need of a partnership to stem the tide. Ned Eckersley joined Harte at the crease and the duo were able to put together a stand of 35.

🎥 REPLAY: Stumps aaaaallllll owwwwaaaa! #gosbts pic.twitter.com/eWPXdCw6Me

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 13, 2019

Eckersley notched back-to-back boundaries off the medium pace of Tom Haines, but then slapped the next ball straight to Laurie Evans at midwicket. His dismissal sparked a collapse as the hosts lost three wickets for one run. Liam Trevasksis and Ben Raine were removed by Wiese in the space of three deliveries, leaving Durham in trouble at 106-7, with a lead of only 128.

🎥 REPLAY: A double wicket maiden from @David_Wiese just before the break.

⚔️ A raid on the North East to rival Lindisfarne, 793 AD! #gosbts pic.twitter.com/MxhZC2LBfU

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 13, 2019

Durham followed the example of Sussex's lower order from day two, with a spell of defiance of their own. James Weighell combined with Harte to add 44 for the eighth wicket. Wiese was the key man for the visitors again to break their stand before accounting for the scalp of Matt Salisbury, claiming his fifth wicket of the innings.

Harte continued his impressive knock, reaching his second fifty of the campaign from 113 deliveries, and his two boundaries highlighted his patience on a slow pitch. He added 37 runs for the final wicket with Rushworth to take Durham's lead over the 200-run mark before Jordan ended the innings, although Harte finished unbeaten on 74.

👏 @David_Wiese leads the boys off after recording his 9th first-class five-wicket haul.

🍰 Tea being taken after which we will start our chase! #gosbts pic.twitter.com/OlvEFpOel7

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 13, 2019

Sussex lost early wickets in their chase of 212. Phil Salt and Haines were both out cheaply falling to Rushworth and Raine respectively. Wells and van Zyl formed a partnership to see off the threat of the new ball. Both batsmen applied themselves well at the crease, taking few risks with their shot selection. The pair put on fifty to whittle down the deficit below the 150-run mark. 

Wells was continuing to be a thorn in the side of the hosts, but Salisbury struck to break the partnership for 83. Van Zyl continued his knock, adding an unbeaten 45 with Evans (20*) and reaching his fifty from 89 balls to put the pressure on Durham. He ended the day unbeaten to leave his team on 144-3 at the close, needing only 68 runs to secure the win.

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