Twenty20 quarter-final, Hove: Sussex 193-5 bt Yorkshire 155 by 38 runs Andrew Hodd of Sussex celebrates a Yorkshire wicket |
Sussex reached the semi-finals of the Twenty20 Cup for the first time with a 38-run victory over Yorkshire at Hove. Chris Nash got Sussex off to a flyer with four boundaries off the first over and Yorkshire's slipshod fielding allowed the home side to make 193-5.
Craig White and Younis Khan both put in useful innings but Yorkshire collapsed in the final few overs to 155 all out.
Rana Naved was the pick of the Sussex bowlers with 3-26.
Murray Goodwin (57) and Luke Wright, who hit three sixes in a 27-ball 45, continued the early momentum for Sussex in a second-wicket partnership of 73.
The home side continued to pile up the runs, with 41 coming off the last two overs.
 | 606: DEBATE |
In reply, Andrew Gale got off the mark in Yorkshire's first over with a straight six but was bowled by Naved without further addition.
Like their opponents, Sussex put down a series of catches but Mushtaq Ahmed kept the Yorkshire batsmen in check with his wily leg spin.
Younus Khan (30) and Jacques Rudolph (21) kept Yorkshire hopes alive until a late collapse saw them crumble from 148-5 to 155 all out.
Sussex will meet Kent in the semi-finals on 4 August.
 | To play in front of a crowd like this in sleepy old Sussex was superb Sussex skipper Chris Adams |
Sussex skipper Chris Adams paid tribute to his side's fans and said: "What an atmosphere there was and to play in front of a crowd like this in sleepy old Sussex was superb.
"I thought it was a big toss to win today and always knew that 193 was going to be tough to chase.
"Saqlain got the crucial wicket but Mushtaq did it for us again. He comes on after that six-over period and slows things down.
"He has bowled well in all forms of the game and has been a legend here on and off the pitch."
Yorkshire captain Darren Gough had no complaints and said: "We were just under par all round. We had two batsmen who assessed the situation as we were chasing but they got out at the wrong time.
"Our batting's been weak all tournament and our bowling has been good but today it was the other way round.
"We thought the best way of batting was to chase their spinners and we didn't know what a good score was. I thought we would have been better chasing but they probably got 30 runs too many.
"Well done to Sussex. They put pressure on us early doors and there is no reason why they can't go on and win it."