Johnson's innings not enough to save Notts from defeat against Sussex

Sussex's acting skipper James Kirtley led from the front with four wickets as his side eased to their first CricInfo Championship win of the season by an emphatic 162 runs against Nottinghamshire at Hove.

Kirtley took 4-65 while there were also four wickets for new ball partner Jason Lewry to give him 9-160 in the match as Notts, chasing 371 to win, were bowled out for 208.

Sussex were in the driving seat by lunch having reduced Notts to 45-3. Kirtley removed Guy Welton and Usman Afzaal while Lewry accounted for Darren Bicknell.

Kirtley struck again when he took the key wicket of Greg Blewett with the first ball after lunch when the Australian gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Notts were soon reeling at 67-6 when Kevin Pietersen was caught behind off Lewry and Chris Read lbw to Kirtley offering no shot.

Veteran Paul Johnson staged a brief recovery in partnership with Paul Franks, the seventh wicket pair putting on 63 in 17 overs before Robin Martin-Jenkins struck in successive overs to remove Franks and then Gareth Clough leg before.

Johnson duly went to his second fifty of the match and finished on an unbeaten 88 from 126 balls with 14 fours, but Sussex wrapped up victory 35 minutes after tea when David Millns was leg before to Lewry offering no shot and Smith bowled by Lewry's inswinger after an entertaining last wicket partnership of 52 in eight overs with the impressive Johnson.

Earlier Sussex had batted on for an hour in the morning before declaring on 298-8 with a lead of 370. South African Smith took two more wickets to finish with 5-37 and a match haul of 10-101.