Sussex are celebrating a second successive innings victory at Hove after seeing off Worcestershire.

Their seam attack dismissed the previously unbeaten visitors for 260 midway through the afternoon session on the final day – well before forecast rain arrived.

Victory by an innings and seven runs followed a similarly comprehensive success over Durham last out at Hove.

Sussex looked like winning a lot earlier after taking two wickets in the first five overs after Worcestershire resumed on 124-4, still needing 143 runs to make their hosts bat again.

Vernon Philander produced a brute of a ball that climbed and left Ben Cox (3) which the batsman touched to second slip.

Worcestershire had added just four runs to their overnight score when they lost their sixth wicket as Jofra Archer, generating good pace from the sea end, nipped one back onto night-watchman Josh Tongue’s off stump.

They were 128-6 at that stage but seventh-wicket pair Ross Whiteley and Ed Barnard frustrated Sussex for the rest of the morning session as they added 79 in 25 overs.

Whiteley was twice reprieved by Sussex skipper Chris Nash at second slip, first off Philander and then Archer, and both batsmen were struck on the body by short-of-a-length deliveries which rose sharply.

Worcestershire began the afternoon session confident of saving the game but in the first over after the resumption Stiaan van Zyl drew Barnard (21) forward and a thin edge was taken by wicketkeeper Michael Burgess.

Whiteley went to 50, from 102 balls with eight fours, but after adding three more runs his brave resistance ended when David Wiese, armed with the new ball, cut one back off the seam to find the edge.

Philander cleverly held one back and Joe Leach (23) drove to mid-on and the South African secured victory when he had Jack Shantry (11) held at second slip.

Sussex take 23 points and Worcestershire four.