Sussex still hoping for another 40-over title

CLYDESDALE BANK 40 - GROUP A, Guildford:
Sussex 256-4 (38.2 ovs) beat Surrey 252 (39.5 ovs) by four wickets
Match scorecard

Sussex's bid for a third straight 40-over league title gained momentum as they eased to a six-wicket CB40 win over Surrey at Guildford.

An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 113 in 14.5 overs between skipper Mike Yardy and Andrew Hodd saw Sussex home on 252-6 with 10 balls to spare.

Ex-Surrey skipper Stewart Walters hit 88 as his side were bowled out for 252.

But, after 62 from opener Chris Nash, Yardy (66no) and Hodd (46no) saw their side home.

Although Sussex still trail Group A leaders Somerset by two points, their victory lifts them above Surrey into second place.

Surrey looked favourites when Gareth Batty had opener Nash caught off a top-edged sweep and bowled Murray Goodwin with the next ball of the 24th over to leave Sussex 143-4.

The asking rate then climbed beyond nine an over but the chase was transformed when Sussex plundered 47 runs in their four-over batting powerplay which they delayed until the 35th over.

Chris Tremlett was hit for 15 and Jade Dernbach for 16 before Yardy won the game with successive boundaries off Tremlett.

Earlier, Surrey's last five wickets fell for 30 runs in four overs, James Kirtley picking up two in the last over to finish with 4-60, a decent comeback considering his first two overs had disappeared for 30.