Stiaan van Zyl & Brown centuries put Sussex in total command

Stiaan van Zyl and Ben Brown's masterful centuries set Sussex on course for a maximum-points win over Middlesex on day two at Lord’s.

The South African left-hander batted for just over seven and a half hours for his 173, while his captain Brown weighed in with 107 as Sussex, who bowled out the hosts for 138 on the opening day, piled up 481-9.

Middlesex, for whom James Harris returned figures of 4-98, survived four overs before stumps reaching 9-0, but they face the prospect of having to bat out almost all of the remaining two days to salvage a draw.

Sussex were only 31 ahead at start of play, but van Zyl and Brown showed great application to bat throughout an absorbing morning session against tight bowling from the hosts.

Van Zyl moved to his half-century before surviving a decent LBW shout from Toby Roland-Jones in what was a probing opening spell from the former England seamer.

Brown at this stage was completely becalmed and he got the benefit of the doubt on another LBW appeal when he’d made just 18, Ethan Bamber the unlucky bowler.

Just 83 runs came in that first session, but even so it meant Sussex were already over 100 in front.

The new-ball was available almost immediately on the resumption, but instead of bringing much-needed wickets for the hosts it was the signal for a furious assault from Brown who unfurled a series of glorious shots.

It set up a race between the two batsmen as to who could get to three figures first. In the event van Zyl just prevailed, reaching the landmark from 233 balls with 12 fours.

Not long afterwards it was Brown’s turn, 16 boundaries getting him to the century almost 100 balls quicker than his teammate. His second fifty came up in 41 balls in a passage of play which saw 81 runs in the 55 minutes after lunch.

👑 Ben Brown is eventually dismissed for a majestic 107 off 141 balls

🤯 454 runs in his last four innings at an average of 151!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿?

🧮 333 for 5, lead by 195 #gosbts pic.twitter.com/QSZu8nmHVF

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 3, 2019

It was 2:35pm by the time Middlesex got their first success of the day, Brown hitting across a straight one from Roland-Jones and losing his off-bail.

It was the Sussex wicketkeeper's third consecutive Championship century in as many innings and he now has 454 runs at an average of over 151 from his past four knocks.

Two more wickets fell before tea, David Wiese pulling a short one from James Harris to Roland-Jones in the deep, before Chris Jordan played on to give Bamber his first scalp of the innings.

Van Zyl though remained and any hopes of running through the tail were hindered by staunch support from Will Beer, who ensured maximum batting points were secured before tea.

⏯ 18 boundaries for @laggies74 so far... pic.twitter.com/pBsAHaXJt5

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 3, 2019

The pair batted deep into the final session taking the eighth wicket stand to 89 before van Zyl epic vigil ended when he was trapped in front by Harris.

There was still time for Beer to make a maiden Championship 50 and equal his  first-class best, before Harris struck for a fourth time to scatter Ollie Robinson’s stumps, provoking Jason Gillespie’s men to declare 343 to the good.

Speaking after recording a new personal best for Sussex, van Zyl said: "It’s great to play here at Lord’s first of all and to get some runs is a dream come true.

“I must say this hundred is up there as one of my best. I think my hundred on debut for South Africa is still No 1, but this one is second. It is such a great achievement and luckily for me it happened at such a wonderful ground.

“The wicket here is quite a tricky one, it keeps you honest. You are never quite 100% in as the odd ball does have something in it.

“So, for me and Browny (Ben Brown) to get that partnership going and get the team in a very good position was great.

“I think tomorrow if we stick to our guns and bowl good areas, we’ll get the 10 wickets because there is enough in there. Even with the old ball there is plenty there.”