Sussex made a losing start to their Specsavers County Championship campaign with a seven-wicket defeat by Leicestershire at Hove.

Sussex began the final day needing nine wickets, Leicestershire 131 runs.

Half-centuries from captain Paul Horton and Championship debutant Hasan Azad set things up for the visitors before Australian Mark Cosgrove saw them over the line 50 minutes after lunch with an unbeaten 53.

Ollie Robisnon took the only wicket to fall in the morning session, Paul Horton going for 61 when Phil Salt juggled a chance in the slips and Chris Jordan completed the catch.

Two balls after lunch Robinson surprised Azad with extra bounce and had the left-hander caught off the shoulder of the bat at second slip.

Leicestershire still needed 54 at that stage and Sussex had a glimmer of hope, but Cosgrove and the equally experienced Colin Ackermann quietly chipped away at the target as they won at Hove for the first time in 24 years.

Sussex start their first away game at Durham on Thursday.