Sussex’s title hopes took a massive blow as they suffered an emphatic defeat against struggling Derbyshire at Hove.

Sussex began the day looking to push for the win which would have sent them back to the top of division one but collapsed in dramatic fashion.

Resuming on 11-1 they slumped to 133 all out to set Derbyshire a target of 174 to win which they achieved for the loss of just one wicket.

It was Sussex’s tenth defeat in their last 11 games in all competitions and they are still looking for their first win at Hove since August 15 last year.

The result leaves Sussex behind Yorkshire in second place in the table while Derbyshire remain bottom despite picking up their first win of the season – and their first at Hove since 1996.

The day got off to a poor start when Luke Wells edged the third ball from Tim Groenewald to third slip without adding to the overnight score and it went downhill from there.

Groenewald also picked up the wickets of night-watchman Lewis Hatchett, Luke Wright and Chris Jordan to finish with figures of 5-40.

Mark Footitt played his part by removing Mike Yardy, Rory Hamilton-Brown and Steve Magoffin to take 3-39 while there was a wicket apiece for Alex Hughes and Mark Higginbottom.

Wright was the only Sussex batsman to mount any sort of resistance as he put on partnerships of 33 with Ed Joyce and 37 with Jordan before falling one short of his half century.

A target in excess of 200 may have caused Derbyshire a few problems but they had little difficulty knocking off the runs after tea.

Ben Slater and Chesney Hughes got the visitors off to a strong start with a partnership of 69 for the first wicket before Hughes was bowled by Jordan for 37.

Slater went on to score his maiden Championship half century and was unbeaten on 66 at the end while Wayne Madsen followed his 97 from the first innings with 62 not out to guide Derbyshire home.