A MAGNIFICENT hundred by Ronnie Irani was ultimately trumped by a superlative unbeaten 158 from Murray Goodwin as Sussex tightened their grip on the South Conference by maintaining their 100 per cent record. Such is the cruel nature of the revamped format that Essex — top of the division at the start of play — are now, with two defeats, struggling to qualify for the August final as group winners.

Irani, the Essex captain, hardly deserved his double dose of disappointment. His 132 not out was a masterclass on how to pace an innings. With Ravi Bopara, Andy Flower and Ryan ten Doeschate offering excellent support, it looked at the halfway point as if Essex had overcome the handicap of having to bat first. There was a hint of early moisture and only 32 came from the first ten overs.

Moreover, when Sussex replied, three quick strikes by Andre Adams, and the senseless run-out of the clearly in-form Chris Adams by Goodwin, merely served to reinforce the impression that this was going to be Irani’s day.

Goodwin, however, atoned for that error of judgment with a career-best one-day knock of rare quality. His fifty came from 71 balls, his second fifty at exactly a-run-a-ball, and he went from 100 to 150 from only 28. There were five sixes and nine fours in his last 108 runs, and 15 fours in all. He ended the match by swatting a full toss from Adams into the crowd.

His first six, pulled off Ten Doeschate, took him into the nineties and, with Sussex needing 64 from the last seven overs, he effortlessly pressed the accelerator still harder by depositing Grant Flower, Ten Doeschate again and Adams for more sixes. “The best one-day innings I have ever seen,” was the verdict of Adams, the Sussex captain.

Where Goodwin found an ally in Carl Hopkinson, who produced some high-class strokes in a 73-ball 64, so had Bopara and Andy Flower proved invaluable partners for Irani, who hit three sixes and 11 fours in his 143-ball effort.Bopara, just turned 21, included a pick-up for six off Robin Martin-Jenkins in a delightful 59.