ANOTHER good win for Sussex in the C & G Trophy on a glorious, sunny afternoon. A partnership of 144 in 27 overs by Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin put Sussex in control. Goodwin finished proceedings with two balls left, finishing on 88 off 88 balls, to add to his 89 in Sunday’s win over Surrey.

The day blossomed after a rain-affected start reduced this to a 40-over match, but Middlesex did not. Against tight Sussex bowling they laboured and despite taking 53 off the last five overs, 200 seemed no better than par.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan dismissed Ed Smith leg-before with his excellent slower ball, then had Chris Silverwood skying an attempted pull. James Kirtley looked sharper in his second game back with his remodelled action. Paul Weekes dug in for 50 off 91 balls and Middlesex limped along.

Owais Shah provided the acceleration with a run-a-ball 82, full of powerful scoops, pick-ups and drives to the leg side. Michael Yardy was the one Sussex bowler to suffer, as the 36th over was smashed for 20.

Sussex started almost as poorly as Matt Prior failed again but they moved through the gears earlier and had reached 166 in the 34th over before Montgomerie chipped Jamie Dalrymple to mid-off and stumbled a little.