Sussex completed a superb comeback to earn a five-wicket victory in the penultimate session of an enthralling Championship match with Hampshire at Hove today.

Having begun the day on 82-3, Matt Prior compiled a superb knock of 97 to marshal the middle-order in terrific fashion.

Following the early loss of Luke Wells, who fended to the slip cordon, England’s Test wicketkeeper was joined by his county deputy Andrew Hodd as the pair compiled an 81-run partnership, the highest of the entire match.

Hodd departed shortly after the lunch break, deceived by a Danny Briggs delivery that kept low.

The in-form Ollie Rayner entered the fray and produced an array of strokes in an unbeaten 22 to guide Sussex home.

Prior produced a combination of aggression and watertight defence that extinguished any hope that Hampshire’s frontline attack held at the start of play.

Having brought up his fifty from 100 balls with a clinical pull off Sean Ervine through midwicket, Prior continued the charge after lunch, completing victory alongside Rayner who dispatched Ervine backward of point to seal the game.

It was a welcome return to winning ways for Sussex, whose loss to Warwickshire last month was the first suffered at home in the Championship season.