Sussex are on course for survival but Worcestershire are in trouble

Sussex gave their LV= County Championship Division One survival hopes a boost with a comprehensive innings and 63-run defeat of fellow strugglers Worcestershire at New Road.

Nineteen-year-old Joe Clarke made a superb ton for the defeated hosts, his first in the competition, but they are bottom of the standings and in big trouble.

It was a first victory in nine games for Sussex and just their fourth of the season but they are now sixth and 18 points clear of second-from-bottom Hampshire, who do have a game in hand.

However, Worcestershire are 13 points adrift of safety, having played a game more than seventh-placed Somerset, and probably need to win both of their last two matches to have any chance of survival.

Worcestershire began the day on 59-3, still 241 behind after Sussex had scored 510-5 declared in their first innings.

And England seamer Chris Jordan (2-59), who took seven wickets in the match, quickly bowled nightwatchman Charlie Morris (12).

Jordan also removed Ross Whiteley (2) in the last over before lunch but Worcestershire fought hard after the interval as Clarke continued his classy knock and added 79 for the seventh wicket with wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

However, seamer Ollie Robinson reverted to spin and bowled Cox when he went for a slog-sweep, before Ashar Zaidi (3-55) trapped Joe Leach (7) lbw and Jack Shantry (13) fell in the same fashion to Luke Wells (2-21).

There was just time for Clarke (104 not out) to reach a thoroughly well-deserved century from 174 balls with a lovely boundary through the covers before Steve Magoffin bowled Saeed Ajmal (9) to dismiss the hosts for 237.

Second-placed Middlesex drew with Warwickshire at Edgbaston, an outcome which was probably always favourite after the first day was washed out.

Warwickshire began the final day on 224-8, in reply to 207 all out, having been rescued from 86-6 by wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose.

However, having resumed on 84 not out, Ambrose could only add a further five runs before he was caught by Ollie Rayner at second slip off Toby Roland-Jones.

That was a fourth catch of the innings for Rayner (3-75) and he then claimed his third wicket (all coming on different days), trapping Boyd Rankin (4) lbw as the hosts were dismissed for 254.

Warwickshire needed spinner Jeetan Patel to cause havoc if they were to have any hope of forcing a result and he did a fine job, taking 3-65 to finish with eight wickets in the match.

He removed Nick Compton (28), Dawid Malan (10) and James Franklin (16), after Keith Barker (2-37) had dismissed openers Sam Robson (21) and Paul Stirling (4).

At 105-5, Middlesex only led by 58, with 42 overs still left, but Neil Dexter, who top scored in the first innings with 53, delivered again with a crucial 43.

He and John Simpson (14 not out) added 44 either side of tea to steady the ship and, although Dexter was eventually caught at leg slip off Rankin, a draw was agreed after Simpson and Rayner (21 not out) had continued the resistance.