Matt Prior scored his third hundred of the season but admitted it was a bittersweet celebration after Sussex lost at Hove for the first time since 2004.

The county champions were beaten by seven wickets against Durham despite Prior's unbeaten 133 in Sussex's second innings 212.

Prior, captaining the side in the absence of Chris Adams, justified his promotion to No.5 in the batting order by taking his Championship aggregate to 615 runs, the highest in the country.

Steve Harmison wrecked Sussex's middle order by taking the second hat-trick of his career but Prior plundered 55 runs with tail-enders Corey Collymore and Jason Lewry to score his 18th first-class hundred.

Prior said: "It was a weird innings. I have worked really hard on being patient this season and early yesterday when Steve Harmison was bowling well it was tough, I had to sit in.

"When Harmy took the hat-trick I knew I had to get as many as I could as quickly as I could and fortunately it came off.

"Obviously I'm delighted with my form and I enjoyed the captaincy but it's mixed emotions because you take it more personally when you lose. You mull over the decisions you make more than you would as a player and the obvious one in this game was the toss. I still think it was the right decision and we can't make excuses - it wasn't the reason we lost the game.

"We've got to get tough and be honest with ourselves and, as individuals, work on our game and where we can improve and that includes me."