Sussex are on course to end their long wait for a win in the Championship after piling on the misery for Northamptonshire on the second day at Hove.

Having made 405 in their first innings Sussex dismissed Northants for just 116 and then reduced them to 80-3 – still trailing by 209 - at the close after enforcing the follow-on.

The seven bonus points Sussex have collected so far in the game have lifted them out of the relegation zone and they will climb a further two places if they complete what looks like an inevitable win tomorrow.

Steve Magoffin was once again the main destroyer for Sussex as they blew Northants away in their first innings.

The Australian removed Stephen Peters, James Kettleborough and Matt Spriegel for ducks in his first two overs to leave the visitors in deep trouble on 1-3 at lunch.

They lost another quick wicket straight after the restart as Matt Hobden trapped Rob Newton with his first legitimate ball.

That became 20-5 when Magoffin had Kyle Coetzer brilliantly caught behind for nine and 34-6 when Hatchett switched to the Sea End to remove Ben Duckett for seven.

James Middlebrook top scored with 28 before he edged Magoffin’s third ball back into the attack to Joyce at first slip. It was Magoffin’s third five-wicket haul of the season and the 16th of his career.

Piolet picked up the wicket of Andrew Hall with his second ball and Hobden trapped David Willey on the crease with a ball which kept low.

Steven Crook counter-attacked by hitting James Tredwell for six but holed out at long-on to Ashar Zaidi for 24 just before tea.

Northants made a better fist of things second time around – although that was not saying much – but still lost three wickets in the evening session.

Middlebrook paid for an attempted hook off Hobden as he holed out to Hatchett at long leg and then skipper Peters was inexplicably run out by a direct hit from Luke Wright going for a quick single.

Kettlebrough then completed a miserable day for the visitors as he saw his off stump knocked back by Hobden shortly before the close.

Earlier, Wright had completed his second 150 of the season – and fourth in two years – as Sussex collected a fourth batting point before being finally dismissed for 405.