Ajmal Shahzadclaimed his first five-wicket haul since 2011 to lead Sussex to their second LV= County Championship win of the season by61 runs over Worcestershire.
The 29-year-old finished with five for 46 on his first appearance at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, having joined the county from Nottinghamshire in the winter.
That meant Worcestershire were bowled out for 185, having been 57 without loss, chasing a target of 247.
Shahzad, maintaining a full length down the slope, took three for 19 in his first seven-over spell and returned before lunch to uproot Gareth Andrew’s middle and off stumps.
Shahzad completed only his third five-wicket haul in the Championship when he had Sachithra Senanayake caught behind but Sussex were then held up by an unexpected last-wicket stand of 51 between Ben Cox and Charlie Morris.
Leg-spinner Luke Wells eventually sealed Sussex’s victory when he had Morris taken at slip for 24.
It was another chastening experience for promoted Worcestershire, who had been dismissed for 101 in the second innings when they lost their opening game to champions Yorkshirelast week.
Openers Daryl Mitchell and Richard Oliver appeared to have given the Pears the platform for a successful chase but Steve Magoffin started their slide in the fourth over of the day when his nip-backer trapped Mitchell in front.
Shahzad produced an unplayable yorker to account for Oliver before striking twice in three balls. Alex Gidman was hit on the back leg and Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s ill-advised slash outside off stump gave wicketkeeper Ben Brown an easy catch.
When Matt Hobden replaced Shahzad he had taken three for 19 in seven overs but there was no respite for Worcestershire.
Hobden struck in his second over, bringing one back off the seam to defeat Alexei Kervezee’s push forward and Tom Fell was deceived by an arm ball from left-arm spinner Ashar Zaidi.
Jack Shantry became the fifth leg-before victim of the innings to the fourth ball after lunch from Magoffin.
Cox held the lower order together with an unbeaten 46 but it was in vain. Joyce called Wells into the attack and he struck with his ninth ball.
Sussex skipper Ed Joyce saluted a “fantastic” performance by his bowlers after a second win to start the campaign.
“It was a fantastic performance. At the start of the day they were slight favourites but we got Daryl Mitchell, whose is a massive wicket, early and then we stuck at it on a pitch which didn’t do much.”
Shahzad has now claimed 12 wickets in two games since Sussex became his fourth county.
Joyce added: “He bowled fantastically. He got it to swing conventionally and then reverse and was aggressive on a pitch that didn’t do much, although it was a bit up and down in bounce.
“It’s good to get two wins on the board even though there are still areas we can be better in. We were a bit careless with our first innings batting, we should have got more runs and made the last day a bit easier and I’m frustrated with the number of catches we dropped.
“Worcestershire fought really hard and you have to give them credit. It was an excellent game on a really good cricket wicket.”
Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes was disappointed his side had come up short in their run chase.
“It was a fantastic effort by the team but sadly we failed to carry it through today," he said.
“An hour’s cricket probably cost us the game. We lost a cluster of wickets but we can’t afford to keep doing that and have to address it.
"We're an inexperienced side and have to learn from these situations and improve."