Career best bowling figures from Samit Patel helped Nottinghamshire to secure a second-placed finish in the LV= County Championship.

Patel finished with 6-84 to derail a spirited run chase from relegated Sussex who were all out for 336, 35 runs short of their victory target.

Nottinghamshire had increased their overnight total by 50 before Chris Read was caught out by Corey Collymore for 82 to end the innings.

Sussex began their reply with a 114-run stand between Yardy and Nash but their partnership was interrupted by Mark Ealham who bowled Yardy two runs short of his half-century. Nash soon followed lbw to Luke Fletcher, and Patel devastated the middle and lower order to secure £50,000 in prize money for the club and a £175,000 windfall for the players.

Dwayne Smith had given the visitors hope with an express 80 including 6 sixes and 3 fours but his aggression backfired when he was caught on the boundary by Akhil Patel.

“Samit bowled well into the rough over the wicket and he was always going to be an important figure for us on such a flat wicket,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“It was a tough day for the seamers but Mark Ealham and Luke Fletcher stood out. Sussex made a game of it because they had nothing to lose and wanted to restore some pride but we’ve got we wanted out of the game and finishing second is an excellent achievement.”

Read finished the season the ninth highest run-scorer in division one of the LV= County Championship with 1203 runs whilst Ali Brown amassed 849 and Mark Wagh 813. Andre Adams took 43 wickets at an average of 28.46 and Luke Fletcher returned 29 at 27.58.