Paceman Matthew Hoggard finally ended some stubborn Sussex resistance to give Yorkshire hope of a fifth successive County Championship win at Hove today.

Opener Wasim Khan had made a patient 49 when he was bowled by the Pudsey Congs star as his side slipped to 121 for five - still two runs behind.

Yesterday bad light ended play 18 overs early with the home side on 91 for four in their second innings.

Yorkshire, who began the second day on 159 for seven, batted so positively that they managed two batting bonus points on their way to 252 and a first innings lead of 123 to make absolutely sure of at least fourth place in the table if the go on to win the match.

They were indebted once again to 21-year-old Matthew Wood who followed up his unbeaten 200 in his previous innings against Warwickshire with a cultured 118 not out.

It was his fourth century of a memorable debut season but his first away from home.

Wood faced 273 balls and struck 14 high class boundaries.

His only chances during a quality exhibition of his batting skills were a couple of edges which streaked past Robin Martin-Jenkins in the slips.

Yorkshire made excellent progress in the morning as Wood and Chris Silverwood scored freely in building up their eighth wicket stand of 71.

Silverwood played several crisp strokes of his own before a thick edge against Mark Robinson was sensationally caught left-handed at first slip by Chris Adams for 37.

Wood was on 89 at the fall of Silverwood's wicket and he moved smoothly to his century by on-driving Jason Lewry for three.

When Rajesh Rao appeared for a solitary over he bowled Paul Hutchison and Matthew Hogg-ard just managed to survive long enough to bring a second batting bonus point before becoming Robinson's fourth victim.

Having finished off Sussex withtwo wickets in two balls in the first innings, Hutchison started on a hat-trick.

Unfortunately he was unable todo so although Toby Peirce got an edge to his fifth ball and Craig White made no mistake at first slip.

Adams played some sumptuous cover drives off Hutchison to remind Yorkshire that the game was still not over.

He pulled Silverwood for the first six of the match but the next ball forced back his off-stump and Sussex were 46 for two.

Dour batting by Wasim Khan and Rao denied Yorkshire any further success until shortly after tea when Silverwood bowled Rao and with the score on 90 for three, seven overs were lost for bad light.

Play resumed briefly and off the first ball from Silverwood, Keith Newell had his off-stump flattened.

Silverwood had claimed three for 29 in 12 overs to take his first class tally of wickets this season to 48. There was some consolation for Sussex whose four points from the game were sufficient to guarantee them a top-eight place in the table.

Somerset have signed ex-England paceman Paul Jarvis on a three-year performance-related contract. Jarvis, 33, recently let go by Sussex, has been affected by injury since joining the county in 1994 from Yorkshire. He played regular second 11 cricket this summer.

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