Stiaan van Zyl makes a dramatic intervention on day three against Gloucestershire

Four wickets in 17 balls boosted Sussex’s chances of claiming their first Championship win of the season against Gloucestershire at The 1st Central County Ground.

Chasing 167 to win, Gloucestershire looked in control when they reached 69-1. The introduction of Stiaan van Zyl changed things dramatically, however.

The South African picked up two wickets in successive balls during his second over and then bagged a third in the over after that.

In between van Zyl’s second and third, Ollie Robinson claimed the key wicket of opener Benny Howell for 45 as Gloucestershire slumped to 72-5.

As the light deteriorated, Sussex were forced to bring on left-arm spinner Danny Briggs who removed Graeme van Buuren after had added 23 with Ryan Higgins.

Conditions worsened, however, and when play was abandoned Gloucestershire were 108- 6, 59 runs from victory with Sussex requiring four more wickets.

A dire forecast for Monday suggests the game might end in a draw which would be a pity.

Both sides had periods of control on an absorbing third day. Although the odd ball misbehaved the pitch played pretty well but overhead conditions were poor throughout with the lights on from the start.

Sussex resumed on 51-2 and lost wickets at regular intervals. Opener Harry Finch batted through the morning session and for a while he and van Zyl looked to be putting Sussex in a decent position.

They then lost van Zyl, who nicked Dan Worrall to slip, and Luke Wright, lbw to Higgins, in successive overs and before lunch Ben Brown (16) and Michael Burgess (17) had also departed.

Finch played the anchor role to perfection, coming out his shell to pull Jack Taylor for six, before losing his middle stump to Worrall for 48 after lunch.

The Australian ended the innings when he had Ishant Sharma lbw to finish with 4-45 while Higgins’ three wickets gave him a match haul of 8-86.

Gloucestershire lost skipper Chris Dent (13) when Robinson beat him with late movement but Howell and Roderick appeared to be putting their side in a strong position with a stand of 45 in 13 overs.

Then van Zyl nipped one away and Roderick was caught behind to give Ben Brown his 300th first-class catch and Jack Bracey lost his off stump to the next ball.

Howells’ patient innings was ended by another good ball from Robinson before van Zyl picked up Taylor. 

Gloucestershire regrouped through Higgins and van Burren, but Briggs deceived van Burren (9) with his arm ball to make Sussex favourites again shortly before conditions got too bad.

Speaking at the close, with figures of 3-16 from his eleven overs so far, van Zyl said: "I don't think I have played when it's been so cold. There must be a law when it gets below 10 degrees you have to come off!

"Seriously, it's okay when you're bowling but standing in the field is not much fun. I had four layers on all day and was still freezing.

"I hope the weather doesn't decide things tomorrow because it's been a really good game. It's a weird wicket - sometimes it plays nicely then the odd ball can go sideways.

“We probably feel we are one or two wickets away from winning and Gloucestershire will definitely feel they have a chance. I was pleased with how I bowled especially as those three wickets have got us back in the game."