Run of defeats ends for lowly Derbyshire

CHAMPIONSHIP: Derbyshire claimed their first Championship win of the season when they eased to a nine-wicket win over title challengers Sussex with 11 overs to spare on the third day – their first win at Hove since 1996.

It was a potentially fatal blow to Sussex’s hopes of winning their fourth title since 2003. They have not won a Championship match at Hove for a year and they were always up against it after they were bowled out for just 133 in their second innings, with Tim Groenewald taking 5-40.

That left Derbyshire needing 174 for victory and they got there in 42.3 overs thanks to an unbroken stand of 102 between captain Wayne Madsen and opener Ben Slater, who both made unbeaten half-centuries.

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Sussex had resumed on 11-1, a lead of 51, but the rot set in after they lost their second wicket to the third ball of the day when Luke Wells thick-edged Groenewald to Peter Burgoyne at third slip.

Michael Yardy was third out at 22 in the 11th over off Mark Footitt to the wicketkeeper and without addition, nightwatchman Lewis Hatchett was leg before.

Rory Hamilton-Brown was then fifth out at 29, lbw to a Footitt yorker. Captain Ed Joyce, their saviour on a number of occasions this year, looked in the mood for another rescue act before he was lbw to Matt Higginbottom for 17, leaving Sussex on 62-6.

Ben Brown was caught at slip and, after lunch Luke Wright (49) was caught behind at 124-8.

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Steve Magoffin was lbw to Footitt before Chris Jordan was last out for 23.

Derbyshire had a positive start from Slater and Chesney Hughes, who put on 69 before Hughes was bowled for 34 by Jordan.

But Slater went on to score his maiden Championship half-century from 94 balls, with seven fours, and was well supported by Madsen, who finished undefeated on 62.