Nash guides Sussex to victory

Sussex 238 for 6 (Nash 82) beat Warwickshire 201 (Kirtley 3-30) by 37 runs
Scorecard

Chris Nash on his way to 82 © Getty Images

Sussex got their Pro40 campaign off to a winning start with a 37-run victory over Warwickshire at a warm and floodlit Hove.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Sussex lost an early wicket when Matt Prior was caught behind by his former team-mate and rival wicketkeeper, Tim Ambrose, for 1, and Richard Montgomerie made just 18.

But Chris Nash and Murray Goodwin - fresh from his record-breaking century over the weekend - steadied Sussex's innings with a third-wicket stand of 78. Goodwin made a run-a-ball 39 before being stumped by Ambrose off Alex Loudon, but Nash carried on to anchor the innings with 82 from 101 balls.

Sussex's total of 238 for 6 was little more than par for the course, but it was put into perspective when Warwickshire lost six wickets with fewer than 100 runs on the board. Nick Knight and Jonathan Trott were both run out, and though Heath Streak did his best to salvage the match with 46 from 41 balls, the requirement was just that little bit too much.