Steve Harmison took a hat-trick at Hove today to send Sussex hurtling towards their first Championship defeat of the season.

The Durham fast bowler returned for a second spell after lunch on day three and immediately had Rory Hamilton-Brown caught behind aiming an ambitious drive.

Robin Martin-Jenkins followed and then Harmison tore out Mushtaq Ahmed's off stump with the next delivery to complete the second hat-trick of his career.

It left Sussex, who have not been beaten at home since 2004 in the Championship, 138-8 - a lead of 51.