Brett D'Oliveira came within one run of a third successive century for Worcestershire after another superb innings on day one of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Sussex at New Road.
The opening batsman continued in the same vein as his 128 against Essex and 202 not out versus Glamorgan.
D'Oliveira reeled off a series of impressive strokes and he moved onto 99 when flicking spinner Luke Wells off his legs for two.
But he then cut the same bowler into the hands of Harry Finch at gulley.
D'Oliveira hit 13 boundaries and faced 154 balls and has now scored 598 first class runs this season.
He was given excellent support by skipper Daryl Mitchell (43) in an opening stand of 113 and added another 77 with Joe Clarke.
By tea Clarke had moved onto 49 and Alexei Kervezee 21 out of 233-2 from 64 overs.
Sussex opted for the toss to take place rather than automatically bowl first but the coin fell in Mitchell's favour and the Worcestershire skipper opted to bat.
Former Worcestershire paceman Steve Magoffin and Ollie Robinson shared the new ball.
Robinson's opening over cost 13 runs with D'Oliveira cutting and cover-driving him for four.
Mitchell also collected two boundaries in Robinson's second over.
He then turned Lewis Hatchett of his legs to the ropes to bring up the County's 50 in the 15th over.
Mitchell produced one of the shots of the morning – a powerful cover-drive for four at Robinson's expense.
The 100 partnership between D'Oliveira and Mitchell came up in 30 overs.
D'Oliveira reached his half century with a leg glance to the boundary off Robinson.
Worcestershire reached 109-0 off 33 overs by lunch with D'Oliveira on 53 and Mitchell 41.
The stand was broken in the third over after lunch when Mitchell toe ended a Stuart Whittingham delivery and Magoffin took a good low catch at mid on.
Clarke looked in good nick from ball one and he and D'Oliveira upped the tempo of the innings in raising their 50 stand in just eight overs.
D'Oliveira, who yesterday scored 150 for Ombersley in a Birmingham League fixture, seemed set another ton until Wells brought about his downfall.
His dismissal brought in Kervezee and he got off the mark with a two off Robinson which brought up the 200 and secured Worcestershire their first point in the 55th over.
