WORCESTERSHIRE failed to break down Sussex as both sides had to settle for their fifth draw in a row in Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

The County are now 26 points off Essex and dropped down a place to fifth after Gloucestershire beat Glamorgan.

Visitors Sussex spread their resources in a disciplined retreat at New Road to leave the teams still looking for their first Championship win of the season.

Ross Taylor (62), Matt Machan (66 in 70 balls) and Harry Finch, with a Championship-best 57, all made half-centuries in clearing a deficit of 213.

They then opened up a lead of 198 when the game ended with their total on 411-9.

Contrary to a dismal overnight forecast, a 10-minute delay in the morning was the only disruption from rain as Sussex set about blunting the home team’s seamers.

Resuming at 137-3, still 76 behind, they restricted the hosts to two wickets in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Taylor put on 52 with nightwatchman Lewis Hatchett (17) and 48 with Machan, who then added 55 with Finch before he was out for a quick-fire 66 from 70 balls.

Machan’s pull for six off Matt Henry before lunch wiped out the arrears and they were approaching a secure position when Finch and Ben Brown (29) added 60 in 15 overs before tea.

The key to the recovery was Hatchett’s confidence in staying with Taylor through the first hour.

When the breakthrough came, it was emphatic with Joe Leach knocking out Hatchett’s off-stump as the left hander pushed forward.

To establish momentum, Worcestershire needed to follow that up straight away but Taylor carried on to a second half-century for Sussex in 98 balls.

Henry eventually won a battle between two New Zealanders by bowling Taylor after he had hit nine fours.

But Machan was then going well with five fours, as well as a six, on his way to 50 from 40 balls.

He batted for 23 overs until wicketkeeper Ben Cox held a one-handed catch from a good delivery by Leach.

As the runs continued to pile up, County captain Daryl Mitchell came on to bowl for the first time this season.

With his fifth delivery, he held a return catch from Finch for his first Championship wicket in three years.

Henry launched one last effort after tea and in quick succession trapped Brown lbw and had Steve Magoffin (16) caught at mid-off for a final return of 4-122 from 31 overs.

Ollie Robinson, unbeaten in the match with scores of 51 and 29, then saw out time in the middle with last man Stuart Whittingham.