Veteran Gareth Berg made crucial contributions with bat and ball to leave Northamptonshire well placed to record their second LV= County Championship win of the season against Sussex. After conceding a first-innings deficit of 81, Sussex all but cleared their arrears for the loss of one wicket before Northamptonshire wrestled back the initiative after tea on the second day at Hove. Left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan picked up Stiaan van Zyl (17) and Travis Head (0) in successive overs as the runs dried up and when Tom Clark (13) followed Berg’s away-swinger and was held at third slip, Sussex were effectively 17 for four. But opener Tom Haines dug in with an unbeaten 64 and Ben Brown (34 not out) counter-attacked in the last hour as they added 44 for the fifth wicket. Sussex closed on 142 for four, a lead of 61.