Chris Adams believes a relaxed approach is the key to Sussex's improving Championship form.

The county moved to second in division one after thrashing Gloucestershire by 227 runs with over a day to spare at Cheltenham yesterday. Matt Prior equalled the record for the fastest century of the season before Rana Naved claimed his first five-wicket haul for the county.

Adams said: "This is the stage of the season where players are starting to feel the effects of a long season and it can be hard work physically and mentally, especially if you are worried about your position in the table all the time.

"In the last couple of weeks (coach) Peter Moores and I have made a real effort to get the boys to relax, enjoy their cricket and try to be as positive as they can on the field and it is working.

"We've been threatening what we did to Gloucestershire all season. We've won two on the bounce, got ourselves up the table and who knows?

"We're probably going to have to win three of our last four games but it might be enough to win the title because it's so tight this year."

Sussex are in totesport League action against Derbyshire at Derby tomorrow. Luke Wright (pinched nerve) is fit again but Ian Ward and Jason Lewry are still out.