Sussex are on course for only their second top-three Championship finish in 50 years after completing the double over Kent in impressive fashion at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

Mushtaq Ahmed took his first-class haul to 41 from just six games with four more victims in Kent's second innings as they lost their last nine wickets for 66 to lose by 191 runs.

With nine wickets in the match, the Pakistani leg-spinner once again played a full hand in helping Sussex equal last year's total of first division victories with their third win of the season.

Mushtaq took two wickets in three balls to help the county wrap up victory 40 balls into the final session but it was the seamers who had broken Kent's spirit and for once they did so without a major contribution from James Kirtley.

While Mushtaq was bamboozling the batsmen at one end, Jason Lewry took 3-14 in eight overs during the afternoon before Robin Martin-Jenkins completed an outstanding match with 3-9 from seven including wickets with successive deliveries.

The all-rounder had earlier hit 11 fours and a six in a superb 84, his fourth successive half-century, before he was last out in a total of 286.

Martin-Jenkins said that he cannot remember batting as consistently well for the county but the way he celebrated his wickets suggested those meant far more to him after a lean time with the ball recently.

He said: "My bowling hasn't been great but in the last two weeks my rhythm has come back. I felt I was putting more balls in the right areas so I knew it was a matter of time before wickets would come and hopefully that will continue for the rest of the season."

How Mark Ealham must envy Adams. On Saturday he introduced Mushtaq for the last over before lunch and then bowled him unchanged while rotating his seamers at the other end in short, productive bursts.

"I've bowled 40 Championship overs fewer than at this stage of last season and I feel fresh as a daisy," said Martin-Jenkins.

"Mushy's great for the team in that way because the seamers can be rotated at one end, particularly in the second innings when the wicket is starting to wear. I'm sure Jason, James and Kevin (Innes) will feel the benefit as well in August when normally we start to get tired."

Kent made a positive start in pursuit of their target of 323 in 75 overs despite losing Greg Blewett to Lewry in the second over but picking Mushtaq's exotic variations was a totally different proposition.

Eventually Kent cracked under the strain.

Lewry returned to angle one across Ed Smith before removing Matty Walker thanks to a superb leg side catch by Matt Prior but as their middle order began to crumble it was no surprise that the crucial incisions were made by Mushtaq.

Andrew Symonds was leg before offering no shot to his googly while Michael Carberry came down the pitch and was flummoxed by a leg break which clipped leg stump.

The rest went quietly. Martin-Jenkins was on a hat-trick after late inswing had accounted for Ealham and Alex Loudon before Geraint Jones drove to extra cover.

Mushtaq finished things off when James Tredwell was caught by Richard Montgomerie and Alamgir Sheruyar was taken at backward point.

Sussex are back in the top three ahead of a three-week Championship break before Warwickshire come to Hove on June 27 and although it is hard to see them challenging Surrey's supremacy, Martin-Jenkins believes they should set their sights on a top three spot.

"Surrey are the best side in the Championship, without a doubt, but I don't think we should be scared of anyone else," he added.

"We haven't played Lancashire yet while we should back ourselves against teams like Essex, Leicestershire and Middlesex. We will need a few solid draws as well, but if we get 20 points every two games then finishing in the top three is definitely on and that is what we should be aiming for."

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