A valiant 81 by Shiv Thakor could not stop Sussex securing a 10-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Specsavers County Championship at Hove.
Having begun Day Three on 195-6, Thakor’s 81 from 102 balls helped get Derbyshire to 307 all out, whilst there were also runs for Tony Palladino and Ben Cotton who hit 29 not out and 26 respectively.
That left Sussex needing 11 to win from their second innings, and they duly knocked off the target within an over.
After heavy rain washed out the first session of Day Three, Derbyshire resumed their innings on 195-6 after an early lunch, which was taken at 12.30pm.
The visitors lost overnight batsman Matt Critchley for 20 when he was caught behind by skipper Ben Brown off Steve Magoffin with the score on 211.
The loss of his overnight partner did not faze Thakor though, as he continued to defy the Sussex attack, reaching 81 before being the eighth man out. He was caught behind off Stu Whittingham having faced 102 balls.
Tom Taylor added nine for Derbyshire before Whittingham bowled him to bring Tony Palladino and Ben Cotton together at the crease, who put on a defiant stand for the final wicket.
The pair batted aggressively, creating a half-century stand that ensured Sussex would have to bat again.
Cotton hit 26 from 17 balls but was last man out when he was yorked by Ajmal Shahzad as Derbyshire were 307 all out, with Palladino left stranded on 29 not out.
Sussex needed just 11 to win, and their opening pair of Ed Joyce and Chris Nash reached the target with minimal fuss to secure a 10-wicket win.
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