Northants edge closer to promotion with win at Eastbourne

Northamptonshire edged closer to promotion from the second division after completing a 162 run win over Sussex at Eastbourne today.

Sussex's hopes of reaching a victory target of 228 had effectively ended on the second day when they slumped to 45-7.

Today they were bowled out for 65 - their lowest Championship score for nearly two years - as left-armer Paul Taylor cut a swathe through their tail.

Taylor had Nick Wilton (19) and Jason Lewry (0) caught at slip off successive deliveries before last man Mark Robinson fell leg before for a duck - the first time Robinson had been dismissed in nine innings this season.

Taylor finished with 6-27, his best return of the season, which gave him match figures of 10-69. Sussex skipper Chris Adams finished unbeaten on 24, but was the first to acknowledge afterwards that his side had been outplayed for the second week running.

"I think it is important to emphasise that we have been beaten by the better side.

"They are more balanced, have a very strong leader in Matthew Hayden and a lot of batsmen who are pulling for their team at important times."

While Northants look odds-on for promotion after winning five of their last six games, Adams admitted his team needed to win two of their last three games to have any chance of being promoted.