Wright helps keep Sussex unbeaten

Sussex 168 for 6 beat Essex 151 for 7 by 17 runs
Scorecard

Sussex maintained their 100% record as they collected their third Friends Life t20 victory of the campaign by beating Essex by 17 runs at Chelmsford. After posting a total of 168 for 6, the visitors restricted their opponents to 151 for 7 despite some indifferent fielding.

Luke Wright underpinned Sussex's innings, batting throughout for an unbeaten 81 from 51 deliveries while helping himself to three sixes and seven fours. His major support came from Chris Nash, who scored 44 from 36 balls during an opening partnership of 106 in 12 overs.

But once they were separated by left-arm spinner Tim Phillips, Sussex lost their way. Phillips was to claim the next three wickets, including that of Murray Goodwin who was bowled without scoring while attempting to sweep, while Scott Styris picked up two more soon afterwards.

It meant that Sussex had lost six wickets in the space of half a dozen overs for just 36 runs before Wright, who saw very little of the strike in the last few overs, and Wayne Parnell carried them to their final total.

Phillips picked up his 4 for 27 while Styris returned figures of 2 for 28 - but they were soon watching their colleagues struggle in reply.

Mark Pettini, Ravi Bopara and Graham Napier were all back in the Pavilion with only 36 on the board, the latter being dropped twice before falling victim to Chris Liddle for only 7.

Owais Shah and Ryan ten Doeschate did their best to try and retrieve the situation by putting together a stand of 51 in six overs but once they were parted Essex never looked like mounting a serious challenge, despite a brief flurry from Styris who struck two sixes while making 20.

Liddle collected 3 for 25 from his allocation of four overs while Rana Naved-ul-Hasan also bowled superbly to return 2 for 23 as Essex were left reflecting on their second defeat in three outings.