Ben Brown guided Sussex home, then paid tribute to the man who stuck with him as the tension mounted.
Brown (65 not out) and Burgess put on 87 for the seventh wicket to help secure a three-wicket success at home to title favourites Middlesex in the Specsavers County Championship.
The two came together when that coveted first success of the season under new coach Jason Gillespie looked like it might slip away with 102 still needed.
Sussex skipper Brown said: “It was probably one of the best Championship games I have played in. A good cricket wicket, tough opponents who kept coming at us for all four days and we've managed to get over the line at the end.
“To get our first win of the season is a massive confidence boost and there have been some great individual performances throughout from the likes of Harry Finch and Ollie Robinson, two of our young guys who are really stepping up for us now.
“The mood wasn't great at lunch when we were six down still needing 102 but in those situations I prefer to be out there trying to control our destiny.
“It was nice to get us home but I hope people don't underestimate Michael Burgess's contribution. He only made 22 but he played a really big part for us.”
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