Warwickshire completed a satisfying first season back in the top flight with an unlikely three-wicket win over Sussex.

It was enough to secure them £50,000 for the Frizzell County Championship runners-up spot.

Warwickshire's Dougie Brown finished unbeaten on 79 after clubbing five sixes as the visitors ended up cruising home in the 96th over at 405 for seven.

Skipper Michael Powell registered his first championship ton of the season in his final innings, striking 15 fours and facing 219 deliveries for his 103.

The Warwickshire opener shared in a decisive 152-run fourth-wicket stand with Dominic Ostler, who was denied his century when nicking one to Richard Montgomerie at first slip off Kevin Innes when on 90.

He had faced 102 balls and struck 18 fours.

Warwickshire resumed the day on 103 for three and still required a monumental effort on the final day to register a seventh championship victory.

Bob Woolmer's side still needed 297 to win, but Powell - 39 not out overnight - and Ostler, who resumed on five, came tearing out of the blocks this morning and by the time the latter went in the 67th over they had swept Warwickshire on to 249.

The arrival of Brown only served to accelerate Warwickshire's progress. The big-hitting right-hander thumped two sixes to long on in successive overs off Mark Davis.

Powell went with the score on 288, snapped up by Montgomerie at second slip off paceman Paul Hutchison, but still Warwickshire forged ahead.

Mohammed Sheikh was soon dispatching Hutchison for four successive boundaries and then Brown his third six, driving Billy Taylor over deep point.

Sheikh hammered 43 off only 37 balls before off-spinner Davis exacted his revenge, bowling him round his legs to leave Warwickshire on the brink of victory at 363 for six.

Brown's fourth six - this time he launched Hutchison over deep mid-on - helped lift his side to 388 for six at tea with only 13 runs needed and although Piper went for 15 after edging Robin Martin-Jenkins behind to keeper Tim Ambrose, Brown fittingly hoisted his fifth six off Taylor over deep mid-on to seal a thoroughly-deserved win.