WORCESTERSHIRE will face a battle to stave off defeat on the final day of their crucial relegation clash with rivals Sussex at New Road tomorrow (10.30am).

They have also dropped to the bottom of the LV= County Championship Division One after Hampshire beat Durham by seven wickets with a day to spare at Chester-le-Street.

The County trail Sussex by 241 runs with seven second innings wickets remaining.

The County faced a first innings deficit of 300 after Luke Wright hit a career-best 226 not out in Sussex’s 510-5 declared.

Worcestershire then slipped to 59-3 by the close of the third day.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell returned to lead the side this afternoon afternoon after his wife Danni gave birth to Ava Jane Mitchell.

When Worcestershire started their second innings, Steve Magoffin trapped Brett D’Oliveira lbw for nought.

Mitchell and Tom Fell added 39 before the fading light led to Sussex turning to spin. Luke Wells dismissed Mitchell (10), who fell to a fine catch by Chris Jordan.

The same player then pouched a chance offered by Fell (26) off Ashar Zaidi.

The visitors had resumed the third day on 251-3 from 66 overs and Wright and Ben Brown (103) shared in a record stand against Worcestershire of 282 in 64 overs.

Chris Nash returned to the crease on Brown’s dismissal, after suffering mild concussion, and advanced his score to 90. Joe Leach finished with 2-113, Charlie Morris picked up 2-75 and Jack Shantry, 1-126 but it was Sussex’s day.