The 34 year-old left-arm spinner picked up the valuable wickets of Murray Goodwin and Matt Prior within the space of three balls just as Sussex were in the process of re-building their second innings.
And he also trapped Ed Joyce lbw for 55 to break a fifth wicket partnership of 53 with Luke Wright (35 not out) off the first ball of the last over of day three.
For the third day running it was looking increasingly likely that England’s James Anderson would be the leading light in Lancashire’s attack because he reduced the hosts to 45-2 yesterday afternoon.
But without Keedy’s intervention this game would surely have been heading for a draw.
Lancashire still have some work to do on today’s final day because Sussex, who are 148-5, lead by 138.
But, as Keedy said, they have a great chance to start their Championship season with a second win here in two years:
“A win is realistic at this stage, but we are playing Sussex here. Take your foot off the gas, and they will hammer you," he said.
“Throughout the three days, this game has been like a boxing match. We have had a good period, they have had a good period. It’s about who will let their guard down first. Hopefully they have done that.”
Earlier Anderson expertly claimed the two wickets of Chris Nash and Mike Yardy. Keedy believes the pitch is starting to “misbehave”, and continued: “Jimmy, on that pitch, could still prove to be the difference between the two sides.
“We still need five wickets, but whatever their score is we have got to say ‘come on lads, it’s a good wicket, let’s give it our best shot’. We have still got to be mindful that the pitch is starting to misbehave.”
Keedy finished the day with figures of 3-34 from 14.1 overs, while Anderson notched 2-46 from 13.
Earlier, Mark Chilton completed a marathon 269-ball innings of 89. Sussex’s bowler Wright, Luke and not Damien, completed career best figures of 5-80 from 27.5 to help bowl the Red Rose out for 299.
Sussex v Lancs
Sussex 2nd Innings (Close)
Yardy b Anderson 22
Nash c Sutton b Anderson 13
Joyce lbw b Keedy 55
Goodwin st Sutton b Keedy 20
Prior lbw b Keedy 0
Wright not out 35
Extras (lb3) 3
TOTAL 5 wkts (49.1 overs)148
FOW: 1-24 2-45 3-95 4-95 5-148
Bowling: Anderson 13-1-46-2, Chapple 11-2-24-0, Mahmood 6-2-18-0, Smith 3-0-16-0, Keedy 14.1-3-34-3, du Plessis 2-0-7-0
Tweet
