FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Hove:
Essex 188-5 (19.2 overs) beat Sussex 185-4 (20 overs) by five wickets
Match scorecard

Cook's half century came off 33 balls

Essex closed in on home advantage for the FP t20 quarter-finals by inflicting a five-wicket defeat on Sussex at Hove.

England man Michael Yardy (76) and Murray Goodwin (55) took the home side to an apparently commanding 185-4.

However, Ravi Bopara (39) and Alastair Cook (63 off 44 balls) got the visitors off to a flying start in reply.

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris (52 no off 26 balls) finished off the chase with some massive blows to take Essex to 188-5.

Winning the toss, Sussex opted to bat but England men Luke Wright and Matt Prior were both summarily dismissed inside four overs. However, that brought the experienced Goodwin to the crease with his skipper Yardy.

The Zimbabwean raced to his 50 off 26 balls before being well run out by Tim Phillips.

His departure prompted Yardy to step up his own scoring as he moved through the gears to finish unbeaten on 76.

The large total did not faze Essex openers Bopara or Cook as they quickly set about chasing it down.

However, the chase was still in doubt when Styris arrived at the crease. But, just as he did against Surrey earlier in the season, he timed his big-hitting innings to perfection, smashing the required two boundaries in the final over.

The win means Essex leapfrog over Sussex into second place of the South Group.

Essex coach Paul Grayson told BBC Essex:
"We knew it was a big game as both sides want to play their quarter-final at home and it was terrific to get over the line again.

"It was brilliant batting from Ravi (Bopara) and Cooky (Alastair Cook) and obviously Scotty's (Scott Styris) terrific 50 at the end just to finish it off.

"A really top-class batting display but I thought we were a bit short with the ball."

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