Sussex are back in top division of cricket's County Championship

Their innings win over Gloucestershire, clinched before lunch on day three, means they cannot be overtaken by both their closest rivals, so a return to the top flight is confirmed.

Resuming on 140 for three in their second innings, trailing by 62 runs, the home side were skittled for 195, left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat finishing with three for 39 and match figures of seven for 71, while Henry Crocombe took four for 22.

WATCH the moment Sussex wrapped up victory and promotion – in the video player above

The margin of victory was an innings and seven runs, Sussex taking 21 points to Gloucestershire’s three from an eighth Championship win of a memorable campaign and building an unassailable advantage over third placed Middlesex.

When Crocombe claimed the final wicket at 12.08pm it provoked scenes of celebration, the seamer raising both arms in the air before joining in a group hug on the square involving the whole team. The Division 2 title awaits for the runaway leaders, who have been far and away the best and most consistent side.

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: “I was nervous coming into this morning thinking about how many we might have to chase with Zafar Gohar in the Gloucestershire attack and thought any more than 150 might be hard on that pitch.

“To actually win the game today without having to bat is fantastic and just shows the quality we have in our bowling attack. Henry Crocombe was top class with his spell and closed the game out, but Jaydev Unadkat and Ollie Robinson have also been superb for us.

“For a young Sussex boy like Henry to finish the game off was brilliant, as was having another local boy, Bertie Foreman, bowling at the other end when the final wicket was taken.

“Winning promotion is wonderful for everyone associated with the club, from the chairman and the board to the office staff, people who work on the ground, the members and supporters. It’s for them and the players. I am only in my second season and, while I am thrilled, there are a lot of others out there who will be equally delighted.

“When I arrived, I talked about our goal being promotion and I wasn’t shy in saying that. To have won eight Championship games out of 13 this season is a fantastic effort from the players.

“It means a lot that we go on to clinch the Division Two title because there are some very good teams who have been chasing us. Both Yorkshire and Middlesex have been breathing down our necks over the past few weeks and they are two very good teams.

“At the moment, I am not thinking beyond getting a nice cold beer and putting my feet up. We will see what happens next week.

“We went to Bangalore in pre-season and had a fantastic period there, bringing the team closer together. They are a close-knit bunch who enjoy each other’s success and I have enjoyed seeing that. All of us who have come in have been made to feel very welcome from the start.

“It is traditionally a family club and a lot of people are starting to feel that is coming back.”

Sussex seamer Crocombe said: “I’ll never forget taking that final wicket. I was just trying to run in and do my best for the team and all of a sudden the game was finished.

“I was born in Eastbourne and have come through the Sussex age group teams from the age of about 11, so it means so much to me. There are a lot of home grown lads in the team and we are like a family.

“I joined the Academy at 15 and it has long been a dream to be part of success in the first team. Watching Ollie Robinson and Jaydev Unadkat bowl and trying to follow them has been great for me. They always seem to get a couple of wickets early, which makes my job so much easier.

“One of them is always stood at mid-on or mid-off to offer me advice and it makes a massive difference. Now we want to win the title and next season show the First Division how good we are and prove why we were promoted.”

Knowing they were on the cusp of earning a place in the top flight, Sussex were on their game from the opening over, which saw Chris Dent bowled by Unadkat’s fifth delivery without adding to his overnight score of 61.

James Bracey could make only two before a thick edge off Ollie Robinson saw him snapped up by Tom Haines in the gully and it was 153 for six when Graeme van Buuren drove at a full delivery from Unadkat and got a nick through to wicketkeeper John Simpson.

Nightwatchman Ed Middleton battled away for 64 balls and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 36 with Tom Price before edging another catch to Simpton off Crocombe to make it 189 for seven. Gloucestershire still trailed by 13 runs.

In his next over Crocombe bowled Zafar Gohar with a yorker and removed Zaman Akhter’s off stump with the following delivery. The hat-trick ball was too wide and left alone by last man Dom Goodman.

Gloucestershire’s only remaining hope was to avoid an innings defeat. It proved beyond them as Crocombe struck again from the Ashley Down Road End, finishing a spell he will long remember by pinning Goodman leg before for two.