Sussex made sure of their place in division one of the County Championship next season and thrust Lancashire closer to the trapdoor after securing a seven-wicket win at Hove.

The result lifted Sussex to fourth in the table but Lancashire now have it all to do if they are to avoid relegation.

Sussex set up their fifth win of the season by dismissing Lancashire for 364 shortly after lunch to leave them chasing 251 to win from 59 overs.

James Anderson removed Luke Wells early on but Chris Nash, Ed Joyce and Craig Cachopa all made half centuries as Sussex cruised home with 12.4 overs to spare.

Lancashire had begun the day with the goal of setting Sussex a testing target and set about the task with purpose as Jos Buttler and Steven Croft added 74 to the overnight total of 203-4 in just 12 overs.

Buttler twice hit Ashar Zaidi for six as he raced to 33 off just 34 balls but Lancashire lost all momentum when he skied an attempted pull off Lewis Hatchett with Chris Jordan taking an excellent catch.

Croft had been watchful the previous evening but was more positive in the morning as he lofted Chris Nash for six shortly after bringing up his 50.

Jordan removed Croft with his second delivery with the new ball for 87 and followed it up by having Glen Chapple caught on the boundary for two.

Simon Kerrigan was caught in the slips by Mike Yardy off Lewis Hatchett for a duck as Lancashire reached lunch on 321-8.

Anderson added 20 before he was bowled by a perfect yorker from Jordan who finished with figures of 4-82 and the innings was wrapped up when Proctor was caught at deep midwicket for 22 off the bowling of Steve Magoffin.

Lancashire needed quick wickets if they were to stand any chance of victory and it was no surprise that Anderson provided the breakthrough when Wells gloved a short ball to Croft at second slip.

But Nash carried on where he left off in the first innings as he reached his second 50 of the game off just 59 balls to guide Sussex to 94-1 at tea.

Nash’s hopes of a first century of the season disappeared when he edged a ball which bounced sharply from Kerrigan to the wicketkeeper having made 57.

With Anderson out of the attack Joyce and Cachopa went on the attack with both reaching their half centuries by lifting Kerrigan for six.

Joyce was denied a second century in the game and eighth in first class cricket for the season when he was bowled behind his legs for 79 attempting to sweep Croft.

Cachopa made short work of wrapping up the victory as he smashed Croft for two big sixes to finish unbeaten on 78 from 86 deliveries while Luke Wright was 15 not out.