Rory Hamilton-Brown revived Sussex's hopes of avoiding relegation in the LV County Championship with an unbeaten 171 against Yorkshire in their crucial Division One match at Hove.

The 22-year-old, who bats in glasses because of a stigmatism, made his maiden Championship hundred in only his seventh first-class match as Sussex gained a first-innings lead of 45 despite losing their last five wickets for 56 runs in 15 overs after lunch.

Yorkshire had just gone back in front in their second innings when Joe Sayers, who had just passed 1,000 runs for the season for the first time, was caught behind during an excellent spell of bowling by Corey Collymore.

Adam Lyth, dropped on three at short leg, was bowled around his legs for 31 but South African opener Jacques Rudolph passed 50 for the ninth time in the Championship this season and Yorkshire will begin the final day with a lead of 102.

Earlier, Hamilton-Brown resumed on 32 but after a thrilling morning he went in at lunch having scored a further 101 runs from 96 balls in the session to help Sussex wrest back the initiative.

Using his feet well against the spinners, he struck 20 fours - the majority through the off side - and hit slow left-armer David Wainwright for two sixes, one down the ground and the second through extra cover.

The 22-year-old extended his fifth-wicket stand with Murray Goodwin to 128 in 32 overs before Goodwin was bowled off his legs sweeping at Wainwright after making 68, his highest score of the season at Hove.

Andrew Hodd then helped Hamilton-Brown put on 99 in 23 overs either side of lunch but Yorkshire fought back well in the afternoon.

Hodd was well taken to his right by Rudolph at slip and in a fiery spell down the slope Shahzad then picked up his fourth wicket when Dwayne Smith checked a drive and was caught and bowled.

When Piyush Chawla edged to slip off Wainwright Sussex had lost three wickets in five overs but number 10 Collymore gave Hamilton-Brown decent support in a stand of 28 before Wainwright took two wickets in three balls to remove Collymore and Jason Lewry and claim his maiden Championship 'five-for'.

Hamilton-Brown departed to a standing ovation, his runs having come off 210 balls. It was also the highest score by a Sussex batsman at Hove this season.