COACH Bill Athey was delighted with the all- round performance of his team after Worcestershire pulled off their second County Championship win in three matches.

Worcestershire, after bowling Sussex out for only 148 at Hove, reached their target of 96 in 26 overs with 11 balls to spare to pour on the agony for the hosts.

The defeat leaves Sussex without a win in their last eight games in all cricket, and they have lost five in a row, but Athey was overjoyed to put one over on his former county.

He said: "We thoroughly de-served our victories over Sussex in both the National League and Championship.

"Things have gone well for us, apart from in the Benson and Hedges Cup when we failed to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"In all the other competitions we've played quite well and we have won our last five games so things are looking reasonable."

Australian Test fast bowler Glenn McGrath paved the way for victory by taking 4-30 for a match haul of 9-84, and Athey added: "Glenn is arguably the world's best opening bowler.

"He's a great bloke off the field and on it he's doing exactly what we want him to do. So in that respect everything is wonderful."

Worcestershire had to be patient in securing their deserved win as almost four hours were lost to rain. They initially had 34 overs to reach their target, but five overs were lost through rain at the beginning of their innings, and another three were taken off when a shower interrupted play at 20-1.

Worcestershire had suffered an early blow when Ryan Driver fell caught behind off Robin Martin-Jenkins, but Elliott Wilson and Vikram Solanki then composed a match-winning stand of 80 in 19 overs.

Wilson was trapped leg before by Mark Robinson with only five needed after stroking four boundaries in making 47 off 52 balls.

Solanki, unlucky to miss out on a deserved century in the first innings, was bowled in Robinson's next over, with one added, as he attempted to record the winning runs by hitting him down the ground.

Reuben Spiring clinched victory in fine style by thumping James Kirtley to the mid-wicket fence.