Sussex go top after Middlesex subside to big defeat

Mark Robinson and Robin Martin-Jenkins each took four wickets as Sussex bowled out Middlesex for 161 to replace them at the top of the CricInfo Championship second division.

Sussex's 192 run success condemned the previous leaders to their first defeat of the season. Set 354 to win in 82 overs, openers Andy Strauss and Mike Roseberry gave them a good start by putting on 54 for the first wicket.

But Martin-Jenkins bowled Roseberry and Robinson had Owais Shah caught at slip before lunch and after the interval Martin-Jenkins and James Kirtley each took a wicket to reduce Middlesex to 80-4.

Strauss and skipper Paul Weekes defied the attack for 13 overs in a fifth wicket stand of 37, but an outstanding reflex catch at silly point by Mike Yardy got rid of Strauss shortly after he'd scored his half-century.

The last five wickets fell for 13 runs after tea with Middlesex's last hope disappearing when Weekes was pinned on the back foot by Robinson.

And there were 15.3 overs remaining when Robinson bowled Phil Tufnell to complete a seventh win of the season for Sussex.

Earlier Yardy (72) and Chris Adams (54) had gone quickly as Sussex chased runs before their morning declaration.

They scored 70 in 12.1 overs before pulling out on 210-7, Weekes finishing with 4-25.