Ian Blackwell blasted 111 of just 56 balls for Somerset Sabres as Sussex's season came to a disappointing close at Hove yesterday.

The Sabres posted their highest-ever score in the competition by piling up a monumental 377-9 against the newly-crowned county champions.

Sussex were never in the hunt before a sun-bathed crowd basking in their title glory and were dismissed for 186 with more than 14 overs remaining.

Blackwell's power show saw him smash 13 fours and five sixes, and after reaching 50 from just 34 balls he stormed to his 100 from only a further 18 deliveries.

Sharks made the worst possible start to their reply when Johnson had Richard Montgomerie caught behind off the fifth ball, and West Indian Nixon McLean later sent back Matt Prior and Murray Goodwin in the space of five balls.

Tim Ambrose and Tony Cottey provided some resistance by adding 56 for the fourth wicket in eight overs before Ambrose (28) went down the wicket to Blackwell and was stumped.

Cottey got out to a tame dismissal in the next over when skying off spinner Dutch to mid-wicket, and Sussex's last six wickets tumbled for only 63. The floodlights had to be used because of poor light.

Lancashire beat Northants by nine wickets to win the second division title while Hampshire are also promoted despite losing their final match to Derbyshire.