The investment of £30,000 by Sussex in hiring four splendid lighting towers meant they made a considerable loss on the night but the county's chief executive, Tony Pigott, was not unhappy.

He said: ``We want to get people in the habit of coming to these games and with two more under lights later in the season we hope to increase our sponsorship support.''

The expectation of movement for the bowlers on a pitch looking a little damp prompted Sussex captain Chris Adams to invite Lancashire to bat, and for the first half of the innings it looked as if he had read things correctly.

But Andrew Flintoff, the former England under-19 captain, batted admirably with a mixture of caution and aggression to include three huge sixes in an innings of 62 from 69 balls before being dismissed by the very last ball.

He helped Lancashire to add 61 from the last six overs and make 201 for six, leaving Sussex a tough task of making just over five an over to win.

Early on Nathan Wood survived two close run-out decisions by third umpire Trevor Jesty, first when Mark Robinson dropped a throw and then just beating some smart work by the wicketkeeper, Peter Moores.

Paddy McKeown was bowled off his pads by the lively James Kirtley, but acting captain John Crawley eased the ball into spaces and made 30 in a 14-over stay.

Robin Martin-Jenkins bowled Crawley for the second time in four days at Hove to reduce Lancashire to 84 for four in the 22nd over. They continued to make around four an over until the final flourish.

Kirtley returned to the attack to trap Warren Hegg lbw and end a fifth-wicket stand of 81 in 15 overs, but that was only the lull before the storm as Flintoff took control to swell the total to one that was clearly going to be tough for Sussex.