Mushtaq Ahmed produced his second successive five-wicket haul for Sussex, but Gloucestershire remained in charge of their Frizzell County Championship clash at Arundel.

The Pakistani leg-spinner claimed 5-58 as the visitors were bowled out for 300 but, after Sussex's paltry 106, a first-innings lead of 194 left them in a strong position.

Sussex openers Ian Ward and Richard Montgomerie safely negotiated four overs to knock eight off the arrears but Sussex have a tough task to save the game.

Opener Phil Weston top-scored for Gloucestershire with 81 and giant Pakistani pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed frustrated Sussex down the order by adding 65 for the last two wickets.

Shabbir thrashed fellow Pakistani Mushtaq for three sixes on the way to hitting 34 not out from 52 balls.

SCOREBOARD

The NatWest Series Old Trafford: Match abandoned, rain, 3pts each No result.

Frizzell County Championship Division One, Beckenham: Warwickshire 334-1 (M J Powell 112 no, I J L Trott 97 no, M A Wagh 86), Kent; Arundel: Sussex 106 (J Lewis 5-33) & 8-0, Gloucestershire 300 (W P C Weston 81, Mushtaq Ahmed 5-58); New Road: Surrey 155 (J N Batty 53, Kabir Ali 5-60, M S Mason 4-46), Worcestershire 170-0 (S D Peters 92 no, S C Moore 73 no).

Division Two, Derby: Derbyshire 274-6 (L D Sutton 79 no, J Moss 79, G R Napier 5-47), Essex Sophia Gardens: Durham 407-4 (M J North 190 no, G R Breese 76, K J Coetzer 62 no), Glamorgan: The Rose Bowl Yorkshire 268-3 (P A Jaques 193 no) v Hampshire; Taunton: Leicestershire 402-8 dec (D L Maddy 84, D D J Robinson 72, P A Nixon 63 no, C W Henderson 52, N A M McLean 4-100), Somerset 45-0.

Varsity Match, Lord's: Cambridge University 228 (S J Marshall 94, D C Gerard 5-29), Oxford University 229-2 (J J Sayers 144 no) Oxford University beat Cambridge University by 8 wkts.