Quick runs for Michael Burgess before bowlers contain Durham on day two

Michael Burgess made 96 on day two of the Rathbones Arundel Festival of Cricket as Sussex were eventually bowled out for 552, a record total for the club in first-class matches at the ground.

In reply, Durham reached 202-4 thanks largely to an unbeaten 90 from Will Smith, with Luke Wells taking two wickets with his leg-spin.

This is a transitional Durham side and their target to avoid the follow-on, 403, looked improbable as they slid to 96-3 in the 36th over of their innings.

Sussex broke through in only the third over of the innings when Tom Latham fended a rising ball from Jofra Archer to Harry Finch in the slips. Then, at 43, Cameron Steel cut Danny Briggs to Archer at point for 20. Earlier in the day Steel had been removed from the attack after being no-balled for his second delivery above waist height.

Graham Clark was third out when, attempting to pull, he had his off-stump knocked back by Luke Wells for 27.  But then the experienced pair of Smith, 35, who is in his second spell with the club, and Paul Collingwood, 44, pulled the innings round with a stand of 82 in 28 overs.

Collingwood, returning to the side after a calf injury, hit eight fours in his 81-ball 44 and played with confidence against the spin of Briggs and Wells.  He appeared a little surprised when he was given out lbw to one from Wells that hit him high on his front pad.

But Smith’s vigil continued and he had batted for four hours for his unbeaten 90 from 216 deliveries, with ten fours.  Durham are halfway to ensuring Sussex bat again.

Sussex’s bowlers and fielders stuck to their task well on a wicket offering few surprises for the batsmen, a fact illustrated by comparing Durham’s scoring rate of 2.7 runs per over to Sussex’s 4.6.

Earlier, Sussex had resumed on a daunting overnight score of 439-5 but Durham were given early encouragement when Chris Rushworth took two wickets with successive deliveries in the third over of the day.

First Ben Brown, who had added just two to his overnight 50, skied to the keeper as he attempted to hit the ball over midwicket, before David Wiese was lbw next ball.  

Archer was eighth out at 500 when he got a very thick edge to extra-cover for 17, giving Rushworth his third wicket.

The bulk of the Sussex batting on the second day was performed by the impressive Burgess.  He was 30 not out overnight and as wickets fell at the other end he took the attack to the Durham bowlers.  

He hit Rushworth for three fours in an over, a lofted drive over extra-cover, a straight drive and a cut and when he reached 91 he became the county’s leading scorer in the Championship this season.  He was eventually caught at backward-point four runs short of his century.

Speaking at the close, Burgess said: “I was four short of my century but it was nice to contribute to a big score, and hopefully a winning score.  It’s a pretty good wicket.  We have played on some tough pitches in April and May so it’s nice to have a flat one.  The ball is coming off the pitch at a pace you can adapt to.  They batted well today but if we’re patient the chances will come.”

Sussex’s mammoth innings was concluded when Ollie Robinson was bowled by Clarke without any addition to the score.

The new ball will be available to Sussex’s seamers six overs into what should be an enthralling third day tomorrow.