One minute he was congratulating Warwickshire's Nick Knight on their title success, the next he was working out how many points his own side still need to avoid relegation.

Chris Adams has definitely had better days as Sussex captain.

It began with the county confident of extending their own reign as champions, at least until the penultimate round of matches, and ended with Sussex one of five sides still not sure of their first division status next season after a five-wicket defeat to a Middlesex side inspired by Owais Shah's superb century.

Shah made 108 and was well supported by Paul Weekes (50 not out) and Sven Koenig (49) as the visitors wrapped up victory with over a day to spare.

But a low-scoring contest probably turned the visitors' way on Sunday night when a ball from Nantie Hayward jammed Mushtaq Ahmed's right thumb onto his bat handle.

Fortunately there was no fracture and Mushtaq toiled away for 37 overs yesterday, but he uses his thumb to impart a fair bit of spin on the ball and instead was forced to try and unsettle Middlesex's array of left-handers by aiming instead for the rough outside their off stump created by the quicker bowlers' follow through.

He wasn't the only Sussex bowler suffering. A back strain meant Mohammad Akram could only bowl nine overs in two spells and in neither did he run in at anything approaching full pace.

At least the early conclusion to this match has given both men an extra day to recover before Sussex face Gloucestershire at Bristol on Thursday.

Mushtaq should be fit but Jason Lewry is on stand-by to make only his second Championship appearance since the end of June if Akram does not make it.

Off-spinner Mark Davis is recovering after over a week suffering from migraines and his availability would be a bonus at Bristol where pitches tend to be a bit like Hove - low and slow and helpful to the spinners.

To make sure of retaining their place in the top flight Sussex need another 17 points from their trip to the south-west and the final game against Surrey - and that target will come down if Lancashire fail to pick up maximum points from their two remaining matches.

The first of those is against Worcestershire on Thursday, the side still likely to accompany the wilting red rose into the second division next season, along with Northamtonshire.

But Adams believes Sussex can beat Gloucestershire and set up the possibility of a showdown with Surrey with second place and £26,000 in prize money up for grabs.

He said: "It's funny how a fortnight ago we could still win the title and now we're still not safe from relegation.

"It would be remarkable if we did go down, I'd rather be in our position than Worcestershire or Lancashire and I still think we've got some good cricket left in us."

The fitness of his bowlers is a concern, but Adams will also hope his batsmen find a bit of form in the last two games as well.

A fully fit Mushtaq may well have bowled Sussex to victory but when their batsmen had the opportunity to shut the door on Middlesex on Sunday they were rolled over for 141, their second lowest total of the season.

"That was the chance to put them out of the game and we didn't take it," said Adams. "One or two decisions went against us and the pitch didn't help the strokeplayers in our side, but all credit to Shah, his was as good an innings as I've seen all season."

The scores on the first two days may have suggested otherwise, but the pitch was no minefield and Shah spent most of the day putting conditions into perspective as he guided Middlesex to the win which lifts them above Sussex into fourth place.

It looked like things were going according to plan when Mushtaq quickly removed nightwatchman Chris Peploe.

For the next couple of hours he teased and tormented Sven Koenig, but the South African limpit survived long enough to add 96 in 26 overs with Shah before he toe-ended a sweep and Tony Cottey ran round from slip to take a full-length catch.

But it was another 25 overs before Sussex enjoyed their next success although it was not for the want of trying. James Kirtley must have lost count of the number of excellent spells he has bowled this season which have not been rewarded and he suffered again after beating the bat on several occasions.

He eventually gave way to Robin Martin-Jenkins who matched Kirtley's accuracy and enjoyed a bit more fortune when Ed Joyce fenced outside off stump, having helped put on 63 for the fourth wicket.

But nothing seemed to unsettle Shah who cut and drove powerfully against the seamers when the opportunity arose and used his feet well to negate Mushtaq, most memorably when he danced down the pitch and lofted him over long on for six.

As usual Mushtaq had any number of appeals answered in the negative, but he finally got his man after switching ends but only once Shah had made his third hundred in the last four games with ten boundaries in just over four hours.

By then the target was down to just 25 and Weekes, who made a solid half-century, and Jamie Dalrymple guided their side home - and confirmed Warwickshire's first title for nine years - just after 5pm. Within minutes the Championship pennant was being lowered from the flagpole.

Mushtaq now has 78 wickets and is almost certain to be leading wicket-taker for the second year running. It will be of little consolation to him today that it's the first time that has happened since Derek Underwood in 1978 and 1979.