Warwickshire batted with great credit at Hove to seal a three-wicket win and boost the club's coffers.

In reeling in the daunting 401-run victory target, Warwickshire secured the runners-up spot - an achievement that carries a �50,000 windfall.

Mike Powell and Dominic Ostler were the chief contributors, the former making 103 and Ostler falling 10 runs short of joining his skipper in triple figures.

Dougie Brown also featured with an important 79 not out, holding the Bears together in the tense closing stages as the winning post loomed.

Sussex started the final day as favourites to capture a fourth win of the season, but they toiled as Powell and Ostler flourished.

The pair had taken the score along from 103 for three to 249 when Kevin Innes had Ostler caught by Richard Montgomerie for 90, a knock that impressively included 18 fours.

Powell soon followed, dismissed by Paul Hutchison, but not before registering his first Championship ton of the season.

Brown and Mohamed Sheikh then took Warwickshire to within 38 runs of victory, but Sussex were given fresh hope when Sheikh (43) fell and Keith Piper soon followed.

However, Brown was in no mood to surrender and he finished the game with a big six off Billy Taylor - one of five in his excellent innings.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie (Capt), M W Goodwin, P A Cottey, C D Hopkinson, T R Ambrose, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior (Wkt), K J Innes, M J G Davis, P M Hutchison, B V Taylor.

Warwickshire: M J Powell (Capt), M A Wagh, I R Bell, D P Ostler, T Frost, D R Brown, J A S Spires, K J Piper (Wkt), N M Carter, M A Sheikh, A Richardson.