Congratulations to everyone at Sussex Cricket Club for winning the County Championship for the first time in 164 years.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the great victory is that the game itself so closely matched the historic nature of the occasion.

After failing to clinch the title, following a costly collapse against Lancashire, a group of lesser players may have buckled under the pressure as they took on Leicestershire.

But heads remained high and nerves kept under control, resulting in one of the longest running barren spells in the history of sport coming to an end before 3,500 thrilled supporters early on Thursday afternoon.

The peculiar nature of cricket meant that play continued for another day before the big party could begin.

But this gave players and fans alike the chance to revel in the team's achievement.

Every player deserves credit but special mention must go to inspirational captain Chris Adams, the fearsome spin of Mushtaq Ahmed and tricky bowling of James Kirtley.

So often derided as the elderly, unexciting sporting relation to football and rugby, a victory like this can do wonders for the image of cricket in Sussex.

Let's not leave it another 164 years though, lads.