Sussex captain Mike Yardy recorded his sixth score of 50 or more in LV County Championship cricket this summer as the visitors tried to make the best of a third successive rain ruined day at Old Trafford.

Sussex advanced from 11 without loss to 119 for one after 34 overs of their first innings. Only 28.2 were possible on Friday as they replied to Lancashire's 236 all out.

Yardy will resume the fourth and final day, which is likely to be just a search for bonus points, on 64 not out off 110 balls.

Play on the third day of this Division One fixture was only able to start at 3.30pm, the latest of the three days despite the forecast suggesting it would be the most settled day.

Former England pace bowler Sajid Mahmood ripped out Joe Gatting's off and middle stumps, reducing the score to 27 for one in the 13th over, but Yardy's ensured that Sussex comfortably advanced.

Lancashire batsman Francois du Plessis had described the pitch as a "good cricket wicket" at the end of the second day, saying there was something in it for both bowlers and batsmen.

But his bowlers rarely troubled left-handed Yardy, who is closing in on 1,000 four-day runs for the season.

The 28 year-old did not seem distracted by the stop-start nature of the day, there were a couple more brief showers later in the afternoon and early evening.

He had top-edged a pull off Kyle Hogg for six early in proceedings and reached his half-century off 76 balls, also including four fours, in the 26th over of the innings.

Fellow left-hander Ed Joyce also made his way to 38 not out off 57 balls. He hit four boundaries.

Sussex, who added 92 runs today, still trail Lancashire by 117 in a game which has seen 167 overs lost over three days.