Sussex v Derbyshire day 3

Sussex 440 and 353-6 (Salt 148 Critchley 3-133)

Derbyshire 389 and 6-0

Derbyshire need 399 to win

For Derbyshire to win this game they will need to enter territory they have never been before in 148 years and chase a winning total in excess of 400.

It isn't beyond the realms of possibility, on a still good batting wicket, albeit where there is some turn, and with a boundary on one side that is very short. Yet history dictates we must label the chances of the win 'unlikely'.

Sussex has a good attack and we need to score at four an over all day to get close, but someone has to bat with the skill and vigour shown by their mercurial young talent Phil Salt yesterday. He put us to the sword with a fine knock and only the older hands of Tony Palladino and Sean Ervine, taking pace off the ball, escaped punishment. Without Ravi Rampaul, who has returned to Derby for further checks on his health after leaving the field on day one with breathing difficulties, we will only bat ten men today and were a bowler down in the field.

All we can do is take it a session at a time and, at the very least, aim to come away with draw points, which should not be beyond the realms of possibility.

Today will be Ben Slater's final innings for the county, before he goes to join Nottinghamshire for the rest of the season and, one assumes, a three-year deal.

I hope he signs off with a major score and wish him well for the future.