Hampshire 2nds completed their third championship victory of the season in a thrilling finish on the fourth day against Sussex at Hove.

After Chris Benham became the fourth Hampshire squad member to fall foul of a pulled hamstring, coach Tony Middleton - on as substitute - swooped in with a direct hit run out to take the final Sussex wicket.

Sussex were 31 runs shy of chasing down the target of 322, and with the big-hitting Baz Zuiderant on 94 not out, they were still in with a chance of victory, before Middleton's accurate arm sent No 11 Lee Harrison back to the pavilion.

A crucial ninth wicket partnership of 42 between Charlie van der Gucht (14) and James Hibberd (42) had helped post the excellent total on the back of James Hamblin's second century of the match on the third day.

But Sussex openers Michael Yardy and Neil Turk set about their task with aplomb with a 114-run opening stand.

It took some fine bowling from Lawrence Prittipaul to break the partnership - he removed Yardy for 61 - before a brace of wickets from skipper Van der Gucht put Hampshire right back in the game.

Wickets fell steadily from then on, with Prittipaul and Greg Lamb (3-94) doing the damage.

This report should have appeared yesterday.