MARK Davis helped Sussex to victory with a career-best return of six for 116 as Worcestershire went down by 33 runs on a turning Horsham wicket.

Davis claimed four of the last six Worcestershire wickets as the visitors, chasing 327 to win, were bowled out for 293 in the County Championship Division Two clash.

Sussex's six wins in all cricket this season have been achieved under acting captain James Kirtley, and he also played an important part with 3-49 for a match haul of 8-109.

Worcestershire's victory bid effectively ended when England 'A' batsman Vikram Solanki got himself out for 89 shortly before lunch with 65 needed for victory.

Solanki, after firing 16 fours from 162 deliveries, drove South African-born off-spinner Davis loosely to short mid-wicket after compiling a seventh-wicket stand of 78 in 18 overs with Steve Rhodes.

Solanki dropped to his knees in self-disgust at his dismissal, and Worcestershire's last three wickets crashed for one run in the space of nine balls after the interval.

The visitors, resuming on 173-3 needing a further 154 for victory, had begun in disastrous fashion by losing three wickets for only 11 runs in the opening seven overs.

Fast bowler Kirtley made the initial thrust by having David Leatherdale caught behind off a thin edge, and Kadeer Ali's poor run continued when he played down the wrong line and was bowled by Davis for only a single.

Australian Test fast bowler Andy Bichel then had his off-stump uprooted by Kirtley as Worcestershire slumped to 184 for six.

But Solanki and Rhodes then batted positively to revive their side's hopes and Solanki's half-century arrived off 125 balls with nine boundaries.

Worcestershire lunched on 271-7, needing a further 56 and Stuart Lampitt opened up to hoist Davis for a huge six over long-on. But Lampitt was undone next ball as he pushed Davis to Jason Lewry at silly point.

Matthew Rawnsley fell two deliveries later, getting an inside edge onto the thigh pad and looping a catch to slip.

Kirtley wrapped up Sussex's hard-fought victory in the following over by pinning last man Alamgir Sheriyar in front of his stump. Rhodes was left unbeaten with 41.