Winless Northants fall short again as they collapse to defeat against league leaders Sussex

Australian overseas signing McAndrew, who removed both openers on Monday, finished with figures of five for 73 as Northants were bowled out for 220, meaning Sussex win by 63 runs.

A short, fiery spell from overlooked England seamer Ollie Robinson did the early damage in gloomy, drizzly conditions.

Robinson found plenty of bounce and carry to remove both not out Northants batters, Matthew Breetzke and Rob Keogh inside the first 20 minutes of this third morning at Wantage Road.

It was a spell which effectively dashed the hosts’ remaining hopes of chasing 284 to win.

While Robinson went off with a niggle soon afterwards, Sussex kept the pressure on, removing the in-form Lewis McManus cheaply before a stubborn eighth wicket partnership of 50 in 14 overs between Justin Broad (45) and Ben Sanderson (24) kept Northants in the chase.

But McAndrew, playing the second of two Championship matches this summer, then returned to take the last three wickets to earn his side their fifth win of the summer.

Northants had started the day on 137 for four – still needing another 147 to pull off a first win of the season.

But they soon lost South African T20 international Breetzke (12) when he pulled out of a pull shot against Robinson, only for the ball to climb and take the edge through to keeper John Simpson.

Robinson then got another pacy delivery to lift sharply with Keogh (12) only able to edge through to Jack Carson at fourth slip before Sean Hunt accounted for McManus (5), caught behind, to leave the County in trouble at 155 for seven, having lost three wickets for 11 in seven overs.

Broad and Sanderson dug in to keep Northants’ hopes alive, running sharp ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but unafraid to put the bad balls away.

Sanderson showed his batting credentials with a glorious on drive past the bowler for four to get off the mark against Hunt before clipping Fynn Hudson-Prentice off his legs through midwicket for another boundary.

In neat symmetry, Broad, who drove Robinson straight down the ground for four to bring up Northants’ 150, reverse swept the left-arm spin of James Coles for another boundary to take the hosts past 200.

The decision to reintroduce McAndrew into the attack proved inspired when, in his first over, he removed Sanderson, who chipped straight to Dan Hughes at mid-on.

Then, two balls later, the bowler accounted for teenager Raphy Weatherall with an unplayable inswinging yorker.

Broad still showed belief though, taking the attack to McAndrew, ramping over the keeper for four, smashing over midwicket for six and carving the ball square for another boundary.

The bowler ultimately had the last word though and when Broad attempted to swing him over fine leg, Coles took the catch in the deep.

The result means Northants are still without a win after nine Championship matches this season, and they look to be out of the promotion picture with five games remaining.

They are now 53 points behind top dogs Sussex.