Sussex are on the brink of suffering a fourth defeat in their last five Championship matches after another disappointing day at Hove.

Adam Wheater and Gareth Berg put Hampshire firmly in the driving seat with a record eighth wicket stand as the visitors made 392 to establish a 141-run first innings lead.

Fidel Edwards then took four wickets in the evening session as Sussex slumped to 134-5 despite a battling 50 from Chris Nash.

Sussex had begun the day with hopes of bowling Hampshire out for less than their first innings total of 251 with the visitors resuming on 116-4 in the morning.

Ollie Robinson picked up his third wicket when he had nightwatchman Danny Briggs caught behind attempting an upper cut for 12.

Matt Hobden then got rid of the dangerous James Vince for 76 – caught at first slip by Ed Joyce – and followed it up by trapping Sean Ervine lbw for 15.

It was all downhill from there, however, as Wheater and Berg put on 165 for the eighth wicket to eclipse the previous best against Sussex set by Shane Warne and Nic Pothas nine years ago.

Wheater reached his century from 82 balls before falling for 111 when he top edged a sweep off Luke Wells to give Ed Joyce a simple catch.

Berg fell agonisingly short of his hundred when he was run out by Matt Hobden for 99 attempting to sneak a second run.

Sussex’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Wells fell for a duck in Edwards’ second over with Machan then being bowled by the West Indian for one.

Edwards – steaming in from the top end – went on to trap Mike Yardy lbw for 15 to leave Sussex in dire straits on 23-3.

Nash and Ed Joyce put on 71 for the fourth wicket to help steady the ship a little but Joyce never looked completely comfortable and eventually edged Berg to second slip for 36.

Nash brought up his first Championship half century of the season from 93 balls but fell almost immediately when he was adjudged lbw to Edwards.