GLEN CHAPPLE claimed ten wickets in a match for the first time for Lancashire as his side closed in on a fourth championship win of the season.

Chapple followed up his first innings 4-61 by taking 6-66 at Hove as Sussex reached 276-9 to lead by only 91.

The fast bowler produced a fine late spell of 4-33 in 11.5 overs as the hosts subsided from 201-5 at tea. Skipper Chris Adams (61) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (55) were among Chapple's victims and Lancashire should not take long now in wrapping up a victory which would go a long way to securing their first division status.

The fired-up Chapple struck in the fifth over of the day to have night watchman James Kirtley taken in the gully for six. The hosts, 185 behind on first innings, had only added eight and former Glamorgan batsman Tony Cottey joined opener Richard Montgomerie with Sussex up against it.

Slow progress

The pair had added a laborious 57 in 30 overs when Montgomerie was unnecessarily run out for 43 just five minutes before lunch. A fatal hesitation by Cottey lead to Montgomerie's downfall after the latter pushed a delivery from Chris Schofield to deep square leg.

Two runs were there for the taking, but Cottey was slow in making up his mind and Montgomerie was subsequently beaten by a throw to the striker's end by James Anderson.

Sussex suffered a further blow immediately after the interval when Schofield struck with the first ball of the afternoon session to remove Cottey. He was pinned in front playing back to one that did not bounce, and Sussex should have lost Adams shortly after when he had scored only two.

Chapple was the unlucky bowler as Adams snicked him to second slip where acting captain Stuart Law put down a straightforward catch.

Tim Ambrose, who was born in Australia but is ECB qualified, carefully played himself in and gave Adams solid support before throwing his wicket away. Ambrose, who opened up to hoist Anderson high over midwicket, later repeated the shot at the 20- year-old's expense but then fell into a trap as he skied Anderson's next ball straight into Peter Martin's hands at long leg.

Partnership broken

Adams had added 76 in 26 overs for the fifth wicket with Ambrose and Martin-Jenkins became the Sussex captain's new partner with the hosts still 10 runs adrift. Martin-Jenkins responded positively and put up the 200 by on driving Law to the fence before Adams completed his half century in 2 ½ hours with seven boundaries.

But Chapple struck again to grab his third wicket and so end Adams' 67-run partnership with Martin-Jenkins as the Sussex skipper perished to a flat-footed drive. Alec Swann, at backward point, took the catch and then Matthew Prior was trapped leg before by Chapple for a second ball duck.

Martin-Jenkins' 109-ball innings ended in spectacular fashion as Chapple sent his off stump cart wheeling out of the ground, and Chapple ended a satisfying personal performance by removing Kevin Innes in the final over. There was only one ball remaining when Chapple, racing in down the slope, had Innes taken at slip.