Worcestershire's remaining batsmen showed plenty of fight on the final day of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Sussex at the 1st Central County Ground before eventually losing by an innings and seven runs.
Ed Barnard and Ross Whiteley, who hit a half century, defied the home attack for 25.1 overs in adding 79 for the seventh wicket in 25.1 overs.
They dug in on an increasingly unpredictable wicket of variable bounce and showed much determination and courage.
Worcestershire resumed on 124-4 – needing a further 143 to avoid an innings defeat.
They were eventually bowled out for 260 as a splendid start to the campaign of four straight wins – the best sequence since 1964 – was halted on the South Coast.
Worcestershire suffered two early setbacks.
Keeper Ben Cox (3) caught at second slip by Sussex skipper Chris Nash via a ball of extra bounce from Vernon Philander without addition to his overnight score.
Then in the next over – the fifth of the morning – nightwatchman Josh Tongue (11) was bowled by Jofra Archer at 128-6.
Whiteley on nine had an escape when he was dropped at second slip by Nash off Chris Jordan.
But his partnership with Barnard flourished and the 50 stand came up in 18 overs.
Whiteley had another life on 35 with Nash again spilling the chance at second slip, this time off Archer.
The former Derbyshire all-rounder was struck on the helmet by David Wiese but was able to resume and he and Barnard saw Worcestershire to 207-6 off 72 overs by lunch.
Barnard's defiant knock of 21 ended in the first over after the resumption.
He was struck a painful blow in the ribs and then two balls later was caught behind off Stiaan van Zyl.
Whiteley went on the offensive and three boundaries in an over off van Zyl took him to his half century from 102 balls with eight boundaries.
But on 53 he feathered a delivery angled across him by Wiese into the hands of keeper Michael Burgess.
Skipper Joe Leach made 23 off 27 balls with four boundaries but then lofted Philander to Luke Wells at mid on at 253-9.
The match ended when Jack Shantry (5) was caught at second slip off Philander.
