LANCASHIRE slumped back into bad habits under the Hove floodlights last night as they crashed to a 138 run defeat by Sussex.

They were hoping to build on Monday's victory over Hampshire and continue their climb towards respectability in the Second Division of the National League.

But instead they plumbed new depths, with realistic victory chances disappearing when they lost the toss.

Sussex piled up 229-5 in their 45 overs with Ian Ambrose, a 19-year-old Australian-born wicket keeper, hitting 89 and Richard Montgomery chipping in with 53.

Glen Chapple was again the pick of the Lancashire bowlers, taking 1-32 in his nine overs. But fellow seamers Mike Smethurst, John Wood and Joe Scuderi were all expensive.

Lancashire then made a disastrous start to their reply with Chapple and Andy Flintoff, who was playing as a batsman because of a side strain, going cheaply.

Tim Roberts was unable to capitalise on a rare first team chance as he went for 12 and with skipper John Crawley also going cheaply, Neil Fairbrother was left in the familiar position of holding Lancashire together.

But he was left unbeaten on 37 as Lancashire crumbled for a miserable 91 with two batsmen -- Scuderi and Jamie Haynes -- going run out.

At least Lancashire should now avoid finishing bottom of the pile with two more National League games left against Derbyshire, the first under the Old Trafford floodlights next Monday.

Crawley will just be hoping for better luck at the toss.

"We didn't cover ourselves in glory with the bat," he said with huge understatement.

"But it was never going to be easy chasing that sort of total batting second."