Young spinners David Wainwright , inset, (3-9) and Adil Rashid (2-42) took the last four Sussex wickets for just 14 runs as the home side could only muster 207 all out in their first innings in reply to Yorkshire's 400-9 declared.

Following on, Sussex closed on 118 for two but events elsewhere – namely Kent's failure to earn a final bowling point against title-chasing Durham at Canterbury – meant both teams in this match, billed as the relegation battle of the last round, almost certainly no longer need to win to stay up.

Only a monumental turnaround at Canterbury, or defeat for either Yorkshire or Sussex, could spell the end of top-flight status for them rather than Kent.

Chris Nash and Murray Goodwin dug in under cloudless skies on a benign pitch as Yorkshire's seamers drew a blank in the first hour yesterday.

But Gerard Brophy brought off a neat stumping down the leg side, standing up to the 6ft 4in pace of Steve Patterson, to account for Goodwin.

With another big player therefore gone for the hosts, much depended on Nash's stand with Matt Prior.

It went well as 60 runs were added either side of lunch, until Prior slapped Patterson to point, where Richard Pyrah took a nonchalant one-handed catch.

Chris Adams then went for a duck in his final match as captain, continuing his moderate form this season when his once favourite cut shot resulted in a tame catch at gully off Tim Bresnan.

At 129 for six, Sussex's all-important initial target of 200 was still a long way off. But Nash, who made 96 last week in the rain-ruined draw at Durham, kept his cool on the way to a 163-ball hundred which contained 11 fours.

He was already into three figures when Adam Lyth had the chance - not taken - to run him out with a direct hit from mid-on.

But the same fielder made up for that missed opportunity when he caught a faulty pull by Nash, giving Wainwright a big wicket with his first ball of the innings, in the 60th over.

Luke Wright was approaching a valuable half-century, having shared a 64-run seventh-wicket stand with Nash who made 106, but was then left stranded as yesterday's centurions Rashid and Wainwright demonstrated their prowess with ball as well as bat.

Sussex therefore needed to bat well second time round.

After a sound start, they lost Nash caught at slip pushing forward to Rashid.

But after Carl Hopkinson had gone lbw on the crease to Wainwright, Yardy - showing the mettle he will need in his captaincy role next summer - proved his standing with an 87-ball half-century which provided encouragement for his team that all will be well after all tomorrow.