LUKE Wright's 98 not out left Worcestershire in deep trouble against Sussex in their LV= County Championship Division One relegation crunch clash at New Road.

The County managed to rescue one batting point from the wreckage of their first innings after eventually staggering to 210 all out this morning from 117-7 during the opening day.

Alex Gidman was left stranded on 60no from 117 balls with eight fours but was aided by some resistance from last man Charlie Morris (3) in a 31-run final-wicket partnership after Worcestershire resumed on 185-9.

Sussex fell to 81-3 in reply but former England one-day player Wright and wicketkeeper Ben Brown (45no) combined after the retirement of Chris Nash (38) to leave the visitors 41 ahead on 251-3 going into the third day.

Wright completed 1,000 Championship runs in a season for the first time after taking 23 balls to get off the mark but then producing a series of attacking strokes with 16 fours and one six from 141 balls.

Play ended two overs early because of bad light in the second post-tea interruption.

Worcestershire's Jack Shantry had claimed his 50th Championship wicket of the season when he dismissed Sussex opener Michael Yardy (13) thanks to a diving catch by Tom Fell at leg slip.

But it was one of few highlights for the hosts, who underachieved with the bat and struggled to make much impression with the ball.

It became 35-2 when Luke Wells (10), who had earlier been dropped, edged through to wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

But Nash was also dropped on 12 in the final over before lunch from Shantry and Sussex dominated the rest of the day.

Morris accounted for Matt Machan (35), who perished to Fell at silly mid-off, and Nash retired after top-edging a pull from the same bowler onto his helmet.

Wright cut Shantry to the boundary to reach his half-century off 81 balls and drove the same bowler for a six.

Sussex collected their second batting point and then a third in what proved to be the final over of the day.