Sharks looking to show bite ahead of big games
Sussex: 130-4
Sussex won by six wickets
CHRIS Nash's blistering hitting in the penultimate over, which saw him rack up 26 runs, sealed Sussex's win over Twenty20 Cup holders Middlesex at Lords on Sunday.
The result sees Michael Yardy's side progress from the so called group of death, the South Division, in second place behind Kent.
Warwickshire, who finished second in the Midlands/Wales/West Division, are Sussex's opponents in the quarter-finals, to be played over 27, 28 and 29 July.
Middlesex's defeat completes a miserable Twenty20 campaign for the Panthers, which saw them win only two matches out of 10 and for a while they looked good for the win.
After posting 127-8 off their 20 overs, Gareth Berg top scoring with 30, the home side had Sussex struggling at 83-4.
David Burton removed Luke Wright and Rory Hamilton-Brown with the score on 18 and then Murray Goodwin went soon after. Dwain Smith and Joyce shared a stand of 47 before Dawid Malan trapped the West Indian in front.
This brought Nash to the crease and he took the game away from Shaun Udal's team.
Together with Joyce (41no), the 26-year-old hit a superb 35 off just 13 balls with Chris Silverwood the unfortunate bowler who bore the brunt of Nash's assault. Going into the 19th over, Sussex still needed 24 runs to win, but two sixes and three fours from Nash sealed the win.
Sussex's next match is the Friends Provident semi-final against Gloucestershire on Sunday, at Hove.
This was the reward for Sussex after their superb win over Somerset at Taunton in late May.
Gloucestershire beat Nottinghamshire by six wickets in their quarter-final tie and the Gladiators have former England bowler Jon Lewis, the ultra competitive Steve Kirby and New Zealand's James Franklin in their ranks.
Their batting is strong also with New Zealander Craig Spearman, Hamish Marshall, captain Alex Gidman and promising wicketkeeper Steve Adshead all dangerous players.
Sussex won this trophy in 2006, when it was called the C&G trophy, and will be desperate not to miss out on making another trip to the home of cricket, Lords.
With a bumper crowd expected at Hove, the match has all the ingredients of being a classic match.
MORE seats are going on sale in The North Stand as excitement heightens for Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy semi-final, at county ground.
Ticket sales are going well and the Sussex County club sits on the brink of another Lord's final.
The Sharks are expecting to play in front of a 7,000-strong crowd and every seat in the house is being made available for this exciting encounter.
The extra seats will have a full view of the wicket, although the view of an area in front of the players' pavilion may partially be restricted, because of the positioning of the sightscreen and the Sky television camera tower.
Tickets can be purchased online (www.sussexcricket.co.uk), over the phone (0844 264 0202) or in the club shop.
Comment on this story