LONDON, Aug 5: Sussex were given an injury scare on Friday during their crucial Championship match against Lancashire at Hove with Mushtaq Ahmed picking up a groin strain.

Mushtaq, the former Pakistan leg-spinner, left the field on the second evening with one ball remaining in his 19th over and didn't bowl on the third morning.

Mushtaq entered the match with pain in his neck and shoulders, but with the current encounter being of such importance in the Championship race — Lancashire started one point ahead at the top of the table — he was battling through the pain.

If Mushtaq is forced to miss any Championship action it would be a huge blow to Sussex who are already having to do without Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Mushtaq has 62 wickets this season and with the pitches becoming more spin-friendly he is Sussex's trump card in the Championship race.

The match at Hove has claimed two high-profile casualties, with ex-England all-rounder Dominic Cork injuring a finger while taking a catch at slip and needing hospital treatment for a dislocation.—Agencies