Craig Cachopa has revealed how he felt it was fate he would do “something special” on his Championship debut at Horsham.

The 22-year-old from New Zealand celebrated signing a two-year deal with Sussex by scoring 84 on a rollercoaster day at Cricketfield Road.

Cachopa put on 174 for the fourth wicket with Luke Wright but Warwickshire fought back late on by claiming four wickets for 19 runs as Sussex closed the day on 314-7.

Cachopa, who came to England to play club cricket for Reigate Priory, said: “I always had this little feeling about Horsham that I might do something special here.

“It’s a lovely ground. Reigate played a cup game here two or three months ago and I came to watch and thought ‘gee what a lovely ground, I’d love to play here one day’.

“We had a (Sussex) seconds game scheduled here but I had university exams and had to sit out so I always had this thing I wanted to score runs at Horsham.

“I didn’t think I’d end up making my debut here so it was nice how it worked out.

“I wanted a hundred really badly but I’m still happy to get a few runs.”