Sussex beat Middlesex and move up to second

Sussex moved up to second in the County Championship Division One after sealing an eight-wicket victory over Middlesex inside three days at Hove.

Resuming on 92-2, the visitors added just 119 runs before being bowled for 211, a lead of just 94.

James Anyon and Amjad Khan claimed three wickets apiece while Neil Dexter (40) batted solidly for Middlesex.

Ed Joyce (35) and Wells (29 no) helped Sussex reach 98-2 to complete their victory in 25.3 overs.

Sussex have now won four successive home matches in the County Championship and will be hoping leaders Warwickshire, who are 11 points ahead, slip up against third-placed Nottinghamshire, who the Bears still have to play twice.

Middlesex's hopes of building a decent second-innings total were undone by Amjad's treble, as he finished with 8-64, his best match figures for Sussex.

Dexter contributed considerably to the visitors' total before becoming one of Anyon's three victims in a 13-ball spell after lunch.

Sussex will also be thankful to wicketkeeper Ben Brown, who took six catches in the innings, equalling the county's record total, the 11th time it had happened.

After opener Chris Nash was dismissed in the fifth over, Joyce and Wells took the hosts to within 27 runs of victory.

And Murray Goodwin (19) then arrived at the crease to help wrap up the win by passing the 22,000 career runs mark.