Jack Carson kept his sights firmly on promotion after hitting his first-ever pre-season wickets target.

The Sussex spinner took 6-67 as his side beat Derbyshire by an innings and 59 runs at Hove.

An emphatic victory strengthens their leadership of Vitality County Championship division two after closest pursuers Yorkshire and Middlesex shared a draw.

Sussex have 177 points, Middlesex 158 and Yorkshire 157 with three rounds to go in the race for the two promotion spots.

Carson, who scored 97 of Sussex’s 607-8 declared, took best-ever match figures of 11-157 as Derbyshire were dismissed for 290 and, following on, 258.

He now has 41 wickets for the season, 20 of them having come in the last two games.

Carson said: “I set a target this year. I am not really a numbers man, normally.

“But after a disappointing (England) Lions tour, I sat with the coaching staff and said I wanted to go back and try and take 40 wickets for Sussex in the Championship and help us get promoted.

“That was my goal and I’ve ticked that off now so hopefully there are a few more left this season.

“I am a Sussex player. I love playing here and I want to win games for Sussex.”

Sussex went into day four needing eight wickets and had to wait until close to lunch.

Then Jaydev Unadkat came back on and delivered two wicket maidens.

He had Wayne Madsen caught by Tom Haines at gully for a stubborn 77, then saw Derbyshire captain David Lloyd caught low down behind the wicket by John Simpson.

At lunch, Derbyshire were 208-4, still 109 runs behind.

Carson ended Harry Came’s long vigil when he had the batsman caught at slip by Haines.

Came’s 79 lasted almost six hours and he faced 273 balls.

Carson had completed his first six-for by the time Henry Crocombe ended matters as he bowled Anuj Dal.

The last five Derbyshire wickets fell for just seven runs.