James Coles fittingly took the final wicket that helped Sussex demolish Glamorgan by an innings and 98 runs at Hove to send the financially-stricken county top of the Rothesay County Championship.
Deducted 12 points ahead of the start of the domestic summer for sustained operating losses, Sussex face a player exodus at the end of the season, when Paul Farbrace will also stand down as head coach.
But their off-field issues are having no impact on how they are faring in Division One after a fourth win in seven matches saw them leapfrog defending county champions Nottinghamshire to claim top spot.
Coles, who commanded a record £390,000 in The Hundred auction in March, underpinned Sussex's mammoth 521 on Saturday with a double century that left Glamorgan needing 366 just to avoid an innings defeat.
They reached 112 without loss before Coles made the breakthrough by dismissing Zain-ul-Hassan and the left-arm spinner bowled last man Ryan Hadley to finish with three for 34 and complete a commanding win.
Nottinghamshire are facing their first defeat of the season after slipping to 47 for three, having been set 473 by Somerset at Trent Bridge, where England call-up James Rew registered 50.
But the plaudits went to Rew's younger brother Thomas, who registered his maiden first-class century and finished on 127 not out as Somerset declared their second innings on 355 for seven.
Jake Ball and Craig Overton dismissed Ben Slater and Freddie McCann respectively and Jack Leach trapped nightwatcher Brett Hutton in front just before stumps to leave Nottinghamshire facing an uphill task to save a draw.
Essex were met by defiance from Leicestershire, who closed on 326 for seven in their follow-on and a lead of 112 at Grace Road, thanks to half-centuries from Rishi Patel and Lewis Hill.
Will Luxton, Jonny Bairstow and George Hill all made fifties in Yorkshire's 246 for six declared against Warwickshire, who closed on 44 for one chasing a notional 453 at Scarborough.
Division Two leaders Durham wrapped up an innings-and-22-run victory over Derbyshire inside three days, with Matthew Potts claiming eight for 66 at the Banks Home Riverside.
Overlooked by England for the second Test against New Zealand, Potts channelled his frustration as Derbyshire were all out for 237 following on, with opener Harry Came carrying his bat for 105 not out.
Lancashire, tipped for promotion alongside Durham, suffered a third defeat in their last four matches after Kent stormed to a 140-run win at Blackpool.
Set 424 to win, James Anderson's side were all out for 283 as Hasan Mahmud claimed six wickets on his debut, with Marcus Harris (91 not out), Keaton Jennings (61) and Liam Livingstone (47) showing some resistance.
James Bracey's 75 not out and Cameron Bancroft's 64 helped Gloucestershire to 264 for seven and a slender 67-run lead at Northamptonshire, who are in pole position to win on the final day.
Worcestershire closed on 33 for two after being set 358 to win by Middlesex, who declared their second innings on 283 for six after captain Leus du Plooy made an unbeaten century at New Road.
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