Mushtaq Ahmed has done most things in his 20-year career but he has never bowled anyone between his legs. Until yesterday.

The fact that the unfortunate victim was his friend Shane Warne just added to his pleasure on another record-breaking day for the amazing Sussex leg-spinner.

In his 71st first-class game for the county, Mushtaq took his 400th wicket when he had Nic Pothas caught behind.

He went on to claim 7-72, his best figures of the season and the best by any Sussex bowler at Arundel.

Of course he was happy to celebrate the 98th five-wicket haul of his career and 30th for the county. But what brought an even bigger smile to his face afterwards was the news that the Jamaican authorities have finally concluded that former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and was not murdered.

The last two months have been the most difficult of Mushtaq's career as speculation continued about Woolmer's death with all sorts of crackpot theories put forward.

He was questioned by the police in the immediate aftermath and hounded by journalists when he returned to Lahore for five days last month. He feels the news will finally bring some closure after a difficult ten weeks.

He said: "People kept asking questions and it was a hard time but I feel relaxed and relieved now.

"Of course there is still sadness because Bob was a friend and a great man and his family must still mourn for their loss and I feel for them."

Woolmer's death has certainly put cricket into perspective for Mushtaq but his desire to perform for Sussex is as strong as ever.

When he removed Chris Tremlett and Stuart Clark with successive deliveries to end Hampshire's first innings, the crowd rose as one as he walked off. It was a special moment on a day Mushtaq will remember for more ways than one - especially the moment he nutmegged Warne.

"I have never done that before in my career, I would certainly remember if I had!" he laughed.

"I love doing well for my club. Some days the luck is with you and perhaps that was the case yesterday but the crowd gave me a good reception which was nice and I was happy to give my best for my team-mates."

The Hampshire captain was trying to wrest back the initiative for his side after they had slumped from 92-2 to 141-7 and launched into a full-blooded pull.

Unfortunately for Warne, the ball did not bounce and dribbled onto middle and leg stump.

It was the third of four wickets in 23 balls for Mushtaq who also had top scorer Michael Lumb caught at slip off a top-edged sweep and induced Dimitri Mascerenhas to slice a drive to mid off.

Shaun Udal and Chris Tremlett made sure Hampshire avoided the follow on with a ninth wicket stand of 36, but after hitting Mushtaq for two sixes Tremlett edged to slip and Clark immediately played back to a googly. Hampshire's last eight wickets had fallen for 110 runs.

The momentum in this match had started to swing Sussex's way late on the first day when Mushtaq helped Luke Wright add 69 for the ninth wicket with a cocky half-century.

And that view was reinforced during the first half hour yesterday when Wright went on to lodge a season's best 57, reaching his half-century with a pulled six off Tremlett.

It was a responsible knock by Wright who shielded last man Jason Lewry from the strike while putting on another 39 before he became Warne's fifth victim.

With 13 wickets falling to spin so far, you might get the impression that the pitch was turning square. Not so, according to Mushtaq.

He said: "There is some turn but it is very, very slow so batsmen can read you off the pitch and there is plenty of time to adjust."

Hampshire rattled along at six an over at the start of their reply but Rana Naved picked up a new-ball wicket and Robin Martin-Jenkins struck in his first over after replacing him.

But the key breakthrough came when John Crawley fell in the last over before lunch when he played back to Mushtaq's googly and watched in horror as the ball spun back onto the stumps.

It was the sort of slow pitch ideally suited to a grinder like Crawley and when Luke Wright picked up Michael Carberry at backward point it was the first of three wickets in 13 balls which ripped the heart out of Hampshire's middle order.

Sussex had a lead of 139 - untold riches when they were 233-8 on the first day - and by the close they had extended it to 270.

Warne is not afraid to experiment in the field but it was a shock when Clark was not even given a slip when he took the new ball and surprising to see six fielders on the leg side for Mike Yardy during his brief innings.

Masecerenhas took both wickets to fall in successive overs but Richard Montgomerie scored his third half-century of the season and he and Murray Goodwin have so far added 72 for the third wicket.