Sussex are off the bottom of the table after making a victorious National League return to their Hove home.

The county's first Division Two game of the season at headquarters will be remembered for superb fielding and a spectacular contribution from Mark Robinson and Robin Martin-Jenkins as the promotion-chasing visitors were seen off by 38 runs.

Northamptonshire were seemingly cruising to victory on 54 without loss when the two Sussex bowlers produced a sequence of 4-0 in two overs to turn the contest.

The hosts finished with four fine catches and a direct hit run out to their credit as they recorded an overdue second win of the campaign.

All this defending a total which, while being their second highest of the season, failed to live up to expectations raised by an explosive start.

Will House pulled the very first ball over long leg for six and helped put on 49 inside ten overs before finding safe hands of Jeff Cook on the boundary attempting a repeat.

Martin-Jenkins was the only other batsman to clear the short boundary on the scoreboard side as the Sussex innings drifted somewhat in the face of an accurate Northants attack.

The loss in successive overs of Richard Mongomerie, as he gave Jason Brown the charge, and Tim Ambrose, caught behind, did much to slow the momentum.

Murray Goodwin top edged a sweep to short fine leg before Chris Adams and Martin-Jenkins combined for an ultimately decisive partnership.

Adams was never at his most fluent but produced a couple of superbly placed drives through extra cover.

He was on course for his side's third National League 50 of the summer before being betrayed by a slow pitch as his intended chip over mid-wicket flew of the leading edge to the hands of mid-off.

The suspicion that Sussex had failed to plunder the short boundary to sufficient effect was heightened as Michael Hussey and Mal Loye gave Northants their flying start in reply.

Loye pulled Billy Taylor for two sixes in an over, one of which threatened passing traffic, to ease the visitors past the half century.

Then came that amazing four wicket blast. Martin-Jenkins had Hussey caught by Montgomerie at slip, then yorked the incoming David Sales.

In the next over, Robinson outwitted Loye and was then supported by a superb diving one handed slip catch from Montgomerie to send Tony Penberthy straight back to the pavilion.

Graeme Swann helped add 37 for the fifth wicket before being beaten by the flight of Mark Davis before the Sussex fielders, whose work has been the highlight of an otherwise wretched League campaign, fittingly rounded things off.

Adams held on to a firm drive from Cook above his head at mid-on.

House did even better to hold a skyer from David Paynter on the square leg boundary and, when Mike Yardy produced his direct hit to beat Darren Cousins, Sussex at last had some Sunday afternoon cheer.

Now Adams and his men will look to maintain the momentum when Surrey visit on Wednesday in the C& G Trophy quarter-final.