Sussex fall short

C&G Trophy 4th round, Lord's: Middlesex 258-8 (50 overs) beat Sussex 241-8 (50 overs) by 17 runs

Kirtley got Sussex back in contention with a spirited spell, but to no avail

Match scorecard

Middlesex advanced to the quarter-finals of the C&G Trophy after keeping Sussex at bay at Lord's.

Sussex's batsmen paid the price of not going on after making starts, leaving the visitors 17 runs short of victory at the end of their 50 overs.

Quarter-final draw

Six of their players exceeded 30, but none could play a match-winning knock with skipper Chris Adams doing best with 39.

James Kirtley, whose 30 not out off 21 balls provided some late fireworks, earlier did the damage for Sussex with a five-wicket haul.

His efforts pegged Middlesex back after opening batsmen Paul Weekes and Andy Strauss got the hosts off to a flying start.

Weekes (73) and Strauss (75) put on 139 runs for the first wicket in a stand that ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.

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Middlesex: P N Weekes, A J Strauss (Capt), O A Shah, E C Joyce, D C Nash, Abdul Razzaq, S J Cook, B L Hutton, A A Noffke, D Alleyne, C B Keegan.

Sussex: R R Montgomerie, T R Ambrose, M W Goodwin, C J Adams (Capt), R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior, K J Innes, M J G Davis, Mushtaq Ahmed, R J Kirtley, B V Taylor.

Umpires: V A Holder and T E Jesty.