Sussex slumped to their fourth defeat in their last five Championship games as they were beaten inside three days by bottom club Hampshire.

A partnership of 120 between Luke Wright and Ben Brown had given Sussex a glimmer of hope of pulling of an unlikely victory having resumed on 142-5 in the morning, a lead of just one.

But both fell just before lunch as Sussex lost their last four wickets for just four runs and Hampshire comfortably knocked off a target of 126 to win for the loss of four wickets.

It was only the second time Sussex had lost in the Championship to Hampshire at Hove in 37 years and gave the visitors their first victory of the season.

Sussex’s hopes of setting Hampshire a testing target suffered an immediate setback when they lost nightwatchman Steve Magoffin to only the fourth ball of the day.

Magoffin wafted at a wide ball from Fidel Edwards to give the West Indian a fifth wicket and he should have had a sixth soon after when Danny Briggs dropped Brown on 13.

Brown made the most of that reprieve as he went on to complete his half century from 84 balls while Wright brought up his 50 from 67 deliveries.

The pair threatened to give Sussex a fighting chance until they both fell shortly before lunch .

Wright was run out by a direct hit from Will Smith for 84 attempting a risky single and Brown followed ten balls later when he gloved a fierce delivery from Jackson Bird to slip.

Ollie Robinson gave his wicket away immediately after lunch when he hit the grateful Bird straight to the man on the square leg boundary.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice followed ten balls later for a duck as he was caught at short leg off the bowling of Briggs.

Hampshire had little trouble chasing down their target, sealing victory shortly after tea for the loss of four wickets.

Luke Wells and Matt Hobden both picked up a couple of scalps but Sean Terry made a career-best unbeaten 62 to guide Hampshire home.