Australian Ashes hopeful Marnus Labuschagne scored his third century of the English county season as Glamorgan continued their impressive fightback on the rain-shortened third day of their match against Sussex.

Just 21 overs were possible at Hove on Wednesday before rain arrived with Glamorgan 1-218 in their second innings - still 16 runs behind - with Labuschagne 131 not out.

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Labuschagne, who made his Test debut for Australia last October, has already made 121 against Northamptonshire and 137 against Gloucestershire during his stint as Glamorgan's overseas player and the 24-year-old has not offered a chance here on a pitch that has flattened out since 15 wickets fell on the first day.

The right-hander took his season tally to 476 runs from four matches, the most in Division Two of the County Championship, at an average of just under 80.

The leg-spinner also took 3-61 in Sussex’s first innings, his tally of nine wickets at 34 for the season so far the most by a Glamorgan player.

Labuschagne has taken nine wickets this county season // Getty

Australian-born opener Nick Selman, who carried his bat in the first innings, has so far helped Labuschagne add 218, with the Glamorgan record for the second wicket against Sussex of 238 - set in 1962 by Alan Jones and Tony Lewis at Hastings - now in their sights.

They resumed on 1-137 on Wednesday, with Labuschagne quickly adding the 23 runs needed to record his seventh first-class hundred, which he reached with a leg glance to the boundary off Chris Jordan. Labuschagne hit two boundaries in an over off four different bowlers and always looked to play positively.

Sussex skipper Ben Brown rung the changes, using six bowlers in the 80 minutes of play before the rain arrived but neither batsman looked troubled by either the four seamers or two spinners he employed.

While Labuschagne played with more freedom, Selman was happy to accumulate patiently as the partnership grew. When they came off he had faced 174 balls for his 64 with eight fours, while Labuschagne had hit 22 boundaries from 190 deliveries so far. They added 81 runs in 21 overs before going off.

Labuschagne breezed to his third hundred of the season // Getty

The rain intensified during the afternoon and after two inspections, umpires Paul Baldwin and David Millns abandoned play for the day at 5pm local time.

Glamorgan still trail by 16 runs but will fancy their chances of avoiding defeat now with a day to go and maintaining their unbeaten start to the Championship campaign.

Meanwhile, at Chelmsford, Australian Peter Siddle’s Essex side continued their dominance of their match against Kent, ending day three with a lead of 312.

Siddle, hoping to play in his fourth Ashes tour later this year, took 3-29 in Kent’s first innings as the visitors were bowled out for just 182.

Qantas Ashes Tour of the UK 2019

Tour match: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire, July 23-26

First Test: August 1-5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Tour match: Australia v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18 at Lord's, London

Third Test: August 22-26 at Headingley, Leeds

Tour match: Australia v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Fifth Test: September 12-16 at The Oval, London