Burns tons up before Pattinson fires with the ball

Australia A's bowling attack flexed its muscles late on day three to bring the visitors to the cusp of a comprehensive win over Sussex.

Led by Jackson Bird's 3-18, Australia A captured 5-14 in 41 balls to reduce the hosts to 5-44 before they finished the day all out for 120, leading by just 10 runs.

Play was extended by 30 minutes in order to get a result but the hosts hung on long enough to force a fourth day despite losing all 10 wickets in the third session.

QUICK SINGLE Burns relaxed about Ashes batting puzzle

However, day three didn't go entirely Australia A's way, with the flurry of wickets in the final session coming after Australia A lost 7-60 to be bowled out for 373 having started the day 0-203.

Opener Joe Burns, who was 88 not out overnight, completed his 17th first-class century inside the first hour of play and was still at the crease at lunch, but the second new ball ripped through Australia A's middle and lower order in less than 14 overs to see the tourists post a 110-run lead on first innings.

Joe Burns salutes his 17th first-class ton // Getty

But the batting hiccup was quickly forgotten after tea when Bird, Michael Neser (1-44) and James Pattinson (3-12) ran through the Sussex top six.

Neser, opening the bowling, struck first by removing Varun Chopra lbw for 17 before Bird swooped twice in his first over, finding the edge of Sussex skipper Luke Wells (4) then trapping No.4 Laurie Evans for a duck three balls later.

Bird then had allrounder Delray Rawlins caught behind operating from around the wicket, leaving Pattinson to complete the collapse by uprooting the off-stump of opener Philip Salt.

The left-arm spin of Jon Holland picked up two wickets in identical fashion – a pair of right-handers caught at first slip by Kurtis Patterson – then bowled a heaving Aaron Thomason to have the home side eight down and still nine runs in arrears.

James Pattinson celebrates on his way to 3-12 in 5.4 overs // Getty

With the extra time taken in the hope of ending the match on the third evening, Aneesh Kapil and Abidine Sakande frustrated the Australians until Pattinson returned to take two wickets in two balls and leave his side just 11 to win.

But the changeover of innings was going to soak up the remaining time, so stumps were called with both teams to return on Wednesday for what could be just two deliveries.

Cricket is a wonderful game but sometimes it leaves you scratching your head.

QUICK SINGLE Harris stays focused as Ashes contenders fire

It wasn't all smooth sailing for Australia A on Tuesday.

The small crowd in Arundel witnessed the first time Australia A's batting had been tested on tour after blazing their way through the one-day leg of the campaign.

Marcus Harris added nine runs to his overnight score of 100 before he was out caught behind in the fifth over the day, ending a 214-run opening stand with Burns.

Thirteen minutes later No.3 Patterson joined Harris back in the pavilion when he edged a full delivery from paceman Mir Hamza to go for four.

Jackson Bird took 3-18 in seven overs // Getty

The loss of two early wickets did not deter Burns, who calmly turned a single to the leg-side to reach his century less than a week after touching down in England as a late call-up to the squad having overcome a chronic fatigue disorder.

Burns and second-drop Head steadied the ship with a 61-run partnership before the left-hander, on 34, missed his sweep shot against the part-time leg-spin of Wells and was out leg before wicket.

But after lunch, Sussex took the new Dukes ball and with it the momentum.

In the space of 15 balls, Burns (133) and Will Pucovski (13) were all caught behind the wicket from the bowling of Hamza (3-56) while Neser left a ball he shouldn't have and was bowled for one.

Day two: Harris, Burns hammer monster stand

Right-armer Abidine Sakande (3-89) had his third wicket when Pattinson was trapped for 13, but that brought Bird to the crease, who flat-batted a six over mid-wicket that sent the patrons ducking for cover.

However, Bird's cameo was just that, with the final three wickets – including captain Tim Paine caught behind for a run-a-ball 20 – falling inside four overs for eight runs.

While the batting would be of a concern against a Sussex attack missing four first-choice bowlers, the A side and its Ashes aspirants have a chance to redeem themselves against the England Lions in a four-day clash starting in Canterbury on Sunday.

Australia A tour of the UK

Get live scores and all the latest news from Australia A's tour of the UK on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh (vc), D'Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Sean Abbott, Andrew Tye

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain

One-day fixtures:

June 20: Australia A beat Northamptonshire by six wickets

June 23: Australia A beat Derbyshire by seven wickets

June 25: Australia A v Worcestershire, match abandoned

June 30: Australia A beat Gloucestershire by five wickets

July 2: Australia A beat Gloucestershire by nine runs

Four-day fixtures:

July 7-10: Australia A v Sussex, Arundel

July 13-16: Australia A v England Lions, Canterbury

July 23-26: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire