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Nottinghamshire put themselves on top of the table with their first championship victory at Hove since 1983.

Set a victory target of 145, they completed their chase half an hour after tea on the final day of their match against Sussex, with Samit Patel finishing on 50 not out.

Earlier, the home side had been dismissed for 263 in their second innings, with Andy Carter finishing with figures of 4-64, his best for the county.

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell was delighted with the victory.

“I’m very pleased because it’s almost thirty years since we won here,” he said.

“We rarely beat Sussex away at Horsham or Arundel either. I guess the pitches down here are normally a little alien to us, so this was a very good victory.

“For the match to go beyond tea on the final day proves it was a good pitch and I thought it was a really good game of cricket.”

The home side began the morning session holding an overall lead of just 58, on 177-4.

Murray Goodwin, who has taken his fair share of runs from the Nottinghamshire attack over the years, began on 52, in pursuit of his seventh first class ton against the Trent Bridge side.

With him, Luke Wright was on 37. Their stand progressed without alarm for the first ten overs of the day, eventually being worth 107.

Andre Adams hadn’t been able to bowl on the third day to sore right shoulder. Good work from the physio, Ross Hollinsworth, got the Auckland Ace loose again and fit to replace Andy Carter, after a wicket-less opening burst from the Sea End.

With just his ninth delivery Adams had Wright (55) caught behind, nibbling at one that left him. Almost immediately Samit Patel struck from the Cromwell Road End, getting Ben Brown (0) caught at slip by Adam Voges for the second time in the match.

The two dismissals came immediately before the second new ball had become due, so Read delayed its introduction and was rewarded with further scalps for both bowlers.

Goodwin (74) chipped Adams to Lumb at midwicket and Patel turned one to knock back Steve Magoffin’s (0) off pole.

Naveed Arif and James Anyon held up the visitors for 14 overs, prompting Read to take the new ball. Andy Carter shared it with Harry Gurney and both struck straight away.

Carter’s fourth wicket of the innings came straight after a confident lbw shout was turned down, as Arif (19) hit to Wessels at point.

Gurney began a new over with Panesar (2) clipping a two through midwicket but instead of leaving Anyon on strike he came back to edge his next delivery to Read.

In pursuit of their target Wessels (30) and Hales (24) put on 48 for the first wicket in just 11 overs.

Chris Nash struck first as Wessels pulled to Goodwin in the deep. Michael Yardy then had his partner caught at slip, before Michael Lumb (25) was given out lbw to Panesar by one that kept low.

Either side of tea Samit Patel and James Taylor guided Notts to success, with the winning hit – an off-side four from the bowling of Nash – enabling Patel to reach his half century.

Nottinghamshire remain undefeated after seven matches for the first time since 1991. On that occasion the record was one win and six draws, whereas the 2012 squad have now won four and drawn three to leap back above Warwickshire at the top of the table.