Suddenly it feels like the Sussex summer is finally in full swing.

That is surely how the county’s first teamers and staff must have felt as they enjoyed what has become their traditional victory routine on a long, sunny Hove afternoon yesterday.

Sussex, as expected, took the six remaining Durham wickets they needed to complete a comprehensive victory, by an innings and 177 runs with about half a day’s play to spare.

They had the first three of those six down inside an hour as Jofra Archer came in with pace, bounce and aggression down the slope.

Vernon Philander, back with the county after injury, finished the job with two quick wickets after lunch.

That left Sussex to enjoy a beer near the willow tree planted in memory of their late team-mate Matt Hobden in what has become a post-win routine.

Their coach Mark Davis was wondering just how good his side could be in the second division of the County Championship as he joined them.

Davis said: “It was a complete performance and probably our best one for a while. If we play to our potential and keep players fit and do what we have done in this game, we can beat anyone.

“We are a good team but you can never rest on your laurels.

“You have to be up for the challenge and you have to do that day in and day out because that’s the nature of the County Championship.”

Davis will check on how Steve Magoffin comes through another bowl today as he recovers from a knee injury.

Magoffin sent down 20 overs on Tuesday for the 2nd XI against Glamorgan at Preston Nomads.

Great win by @SussexCCC boys. Always enjoy your wins, especially important to come back to Hobsy's garden to share it with the big man. pic.twitter.com/AaxBsPm5n3

Luke Wright (@lukewright204) May 24, 2017

If he is fine he comes into contention for what could be seamer-friendly conditions at Tunbridge Wells tomorrow. That might give Davis another big call to make – just like that to play Luke Wells after his long injury absence and first-baller against South Africa.

Wells came in with Sussex negotiating a tricky spell late in the first day of this contest and his career-best 258 laid the foundations for the win.

“Occasionally you get things right,” Davis said with a laugh of his decision to pick the Eastbourne-born batsman.

“There was an element of risk taking him into this game but I don’t think he gave a chance. It was an exceptional innings.”

Throw in a first Sussex ton for Stiaan van Zyl, 76 on Championship debut for Michael Burgess, the fire shown by Philander yesterday and the involvement of Chris Jordan in three of four wickets to fall on the third day and there was plenty for Sussex to be pleased about.

And then there was Jofra Archer, making 70 at No.10 and following his first-innings five-for with some serious fire on the final day.

Archer, described as “the enigma” by Davis, received a quiet but firm reminder as to his conduct by the umpire when he approached Paul Coughlin after bowling to him as Sussex chased wickets yesterday.

Whatever was said, Coughlin seemed un-nerved and played a short ball on to his stumps from the next delivery before departing with a look back at the Sussex players.

That left Durham six down given Paul Collingwood had been out to a David Wiese delivery which the batsman thought was going past leg stump when it hit his back pad.

Archer produced lift to get the prodding Stuart Poynter to offer an edge behind just before noon.

James Weighell delayed the celebrations until the afternoon with a maiden first-class half century which saw him hit Jordan for four fours in an over, three driven square on the off-side.

But he had not added to his lunchtime score when he played around one from Archer and lost his leg stump.

Then Philander, bowling with similar pace and aggression from the Cromwell Road End, had Chris Rushworth caught at third slip.

Graham Onions, who bowled only ten overs in the match because of a sore back, saw his middle stump uprooted first ball by the same bowler to end the contest.