Former Yorkshire paceman, Mark Robinson, the man with the worst batting reputation in the country, blocked out a tense final over at Arundel on Saturday to deny his native county their first Championship win of the season.

In a dramatic finale to an absorbing game, Sussex's wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Prior and last man Robinson held on for 26 balls together as Yorkshire pulled out all the stops in a futile bid to part the gallant pair and end the match.

After starting the season with five defeats and a draw, Yorkshire sensed at tea that a win was not far away with Sussex on 96 for five after declining to chase a 322 target in what turned out to be 79 overs.

But elation turned to despair and they were forced to make the long journey home knowing that the stalemate had only anchored them even more firmly to the bottom of the Division One table.

They are now 17.5 points adrift of Somerset who enjoy a game in hand, as do the Division's two other strugglers, Lancashire and Warwickshire.

It seemed as if the fluctuating fortunes would finally go Yorkshire's way when fielders crowded the bat with four overs remaining and Craig White hurled himself to the ground at silly point to cling on to a catch from Billy Taylor off Andy Gray to make it 206 for nine.

Hull-born Robinson, however, maintained his cool by keeping out five deliveries when the impressive Prior was unable to shield him but after the statutory 16 overs had been bowled in the final hour there was just enough time left for Yorkshire to squeeze in one extra over.

With Robinson at the striker's end, skipper Darren Lehmann decided the best way of getting rid of the rabbit was to replace spin with pace, so he took off Gray and brought on White.

His second ball found the inside edge and missed leg stump by a couple of inches but Robinson pushed forward defensively at the next two deliveries before being beaten over the stumps.

White had one ball left in which to dismiss Robinson but it sailed harmlessly down the legside and scores of Yorkshire followers were left bitterly disappointed.

"It was a great feeling to be able to hold out and bring us a draw and we feel well satisfied with the result after beating Yorkshire by an innings at Headingley and taking 11 points from this game," said Robinson.

"In a way, it made it easier for me with Yorkshiremen crowding the bat because I felt familiar with their comments and was able to give some back. I admit I was a bit nervous but not half as bad as when I was waiting to go in to bat."

Yorkshire's lead was already 220 when they resumed in the morning on 357 for four and in retrospect they may feel it would have been wiser to have called a halt earlier than 12.30pm and given themselves more time to bowl out Sussex.

Michael Lumb, 89 overnight, could only add three before edging a drive to Prior after facing 212 balls and striking ten fours, and Vic Craven had to come in lower down the order with a runner after injuring himself in the nets and suffering back muscle spasms.

Gray hit 40 for the second time in the match and Blakey moved to 28 before Yorkshire declared at 458 for eight.