Sussex collapsed to a heavy defeat in their opening County Championship match of the season against Kent at Hove.

Kent declared their second innings on 413-5 overnight leaving Sussex chasing a nominal total of 426 for victory.

Batting out for a draw was a more realistic target but their hopes of achieving that were undone as veteran seamer Darren Stevens ripped through their top order.

Stevens picked up 5-51 as Sussex slumped to 83-6 after openers Chris Nash (31) and Harry Finch (24) had put on 59 for the first wicket.

Only a partnership of 54 between Ben Brown and David Wiese delayed the inevitable with Brown going on to make his second half century of the match, following his first innings 90 with an unbeaten 69.

Vernon Philander did come out to bat despite having a scan on a groin injury with Sussex awaiting news on the extent of the problem.