Bermuda’s Delray Rawlins is back in action with Sussex in the LV= Insurance County Championship, and their match at home to Northamptonshire is moving along at pace on the third day of four.

Sussex suffered a first-innings deficit of 81 after they were dismissed for 175, Rawlins’s lean run continuing when he was palpably out leg-before for two.

The home side’s bowling attack, led by George Garton’s four for 69, dragged Sussex back into the match, but a last-wicket stand of 51 seized the advantage for Northants.

Sussex began their second innings with the early loss of Aaron Thomason for eight but Tom Haines and Stiaan van Zyl steadied the ship with a 67-run stand before Northants struck three times in short order to reduce the home side to 98 for four — only 17 runs ahead.

Haines and captain Ben Brown made great strides in setting up the match for Sussex, who were desperate to end a three-match winless run.

But when Haines was out caught for a well-played century — 103 off 221 balls with 11 boundaries — it set off a slump that saw three wickets fall for 23 runs.

Included in the carnage was Rawlins, who made 15 from only 14 balls in a counter-attacking innings that promised so much before a loose drive cost him his off stump — playing around one that continued on from seam bowler Tom Taylor’s around-the-wicket action.

One wicket brought two, as Taylor, removed George Garton first ball, caught at first slip.

Sussex are now 236 for seven, only 155 runs ahead with lunch approaching and the new ball only a few overs away.