Sussex seal Division Two title against Middlesex

Vitality County Championship Division Two, 1st Central County Ground, Hove (day four)

Middlesex 271: Robson 113, Higgins 40; Coles 4-61, Carson 3-46

Sussex 250-4: Haines 105

Match scorecard

Sussex were confirmed as Division Two champions when they collected a batting bonus point on the final day of their match against Middlesex at Hove.

Passing 250 in their first innings of a rain-affected game, in which they earned three points for bowling out Middlesex on Saturday, put their overall points total beyond the reach of second-placed Yorkshire.

Having resumed on 112-2, Tom Haines and Tom Alsop took the score to 211 before the latter was dismissed by off-spinner Josh de Caires for 66.

Haines brought up a 161-ball century with a boundary off Luke Hollman, but the bowler brought his innings to an end in his next over, bowling the left-hander for 105.

At that point, Sussex were 233-4, but a Hollman no-ball to John Simpson carried the total past 250 in the 67th over of their innings.

The south coast team clinched promotion last week with an innings victory over Gloucestershire - their eighth of the season.

They will play in Division One next summer for the first time since 2015.