Chris Adams today savoured the best moment of his career after leading Sussex to the first Championship in their 164-year history.

Fittingly, the Sussex skipper was batting with Murray Goodwin when the Zimbabwean took the county past 300 against Leicestershire to secure their sixth bonus point and with it the title.

The other players swarmed on to the field to join in the celebrations and, amid unprecedented scenes, the game was held up for seven minutes while the squad did a lap of honour for a near full house at the County Ground yesterday.

"This is the biggest day of my cricket career," Adams said.

"I was lucky enough to play for England which was very special.

"But the strain we have been under for the past two to three weeks makes this achievement something else."

Adams celebrated with his fourth hundred of the season, but his performance was eclipsed by Goodwin who batted for more than eight hours to make 335 not out, the highest ever individual score by a Sussex batsman.

Adams, who took over the captaincy in 1998, believes Sussex's achievement is the culmination of lots of hard work.

"It has been a long journey for the past six years and we have worked very hard for it,"he added.

"The club has never won the Championship before and a lot of the core membership have been coming here for years. We have given them some good times before but I am sure everyone of them will remember this day and treasure it forever."

Adams believes Sussex's greater desire for success proved decisive in their battle for the game's major prize with Lancashire and Surrey.

He added: "Sides like that are used to winning things. We deserved to win it because we have played attacking cricket all season, won half our games and wanted it more."

Sussex will be presented with the Championship trophy by sponsors Frizzell at the end of play today along with a cheque for £105,000, an amount the club will match and put into the players' pool.

The squad can then look forward to a date with royalty in October when the champions' pennant, which was awarded to the first winners back in 1890, will be presented by the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.

Don't miss our celebratory supplement, free with The Argus tomorrow.