Skipper Chris Adams refused to condemn either his side or the Hove pitch after Sussex's season took another turn for the worse.

Defeat by 12 runs to Lancashire in the third round of the C&G Trophy was bad enough and means Sussex's only realistic hope of silverware this season now lies in the Twenty20 Cup.

But the county also lost Mushtaq Ahmed and Ian Ward to injuries.

Mushtaq tweaked a thigh muscle in the field and although he hobbled in to bowl his full allocation of ten overs, he later batted with a runner.

Of more concern is the in-form Ward who suffered a nasty blow on the side of the hand to the second ball he received from England tyro James Anderson.

The hospital diagnosis was bone bruising rather than a fracture and Ward had an injection before returning to bat at the fall of the seventh wicket. He lasted just one ball before being run out - it was that sort of day.

Ward wasn't the only batsman to suffer while it was groundsman Derek Traill's ego rather than his body which suffered after the pitch copped some fearful stick from Ian Botham in the Sky Sports commentary box and disgruntled Sussex members as they left the ground.

But umpires Vanburn Holder and George Sharp marked the pitch 'above average'.

That will have vindicated Traill, but players on both sides will be surprised by that assessment.

The pitch was one of those Traill relaid three years ago. It had pace and steepling bounce at the Sea End, giving the quicker bowlers plenty of encouragement. Lancashire's Carl Hooper was unable to field after he was struck by Akram while Adams took several blows making a gutsy half-century.

He said: "I've been in great form in the last two weeks, but batting out there was as hard as it has ever been for me, going back to when I played for England in South Africa when I took a lot of hits."

Adams won the toss and decided to bat second in the hope that conditions might ease.

It was no surprise that Sussex's two quickest bowlers, James Kirtley and Mohammad Akram, were also their best.

The trouble was that Lancashire fielded four seamers all capable of getting close to 90mph and the contest was effectively settled when Glen Chapple reduced Sussex to 20-3 with Ward on his way to casualty.

"We still had a chance chasing 242 even on a sporting deck, but it was important we didn't lose early wickets," said Adams.

"Unfortunately that didn't happen and we put ourselves under pressure.

"It was relentless, quality bowling on a difficult pitch. I was hit four or five times but I still found it a great experience."

Adams was twice dropped in the slips, but rode his luck to put on 54 with Michael Yardy and then 63 with Robin Martin-Jenkins who used his extra height to get on top of the bounce in making an unbeaten 61 off 73 balls.

Lifters from Flintoff accounted for Yardy, whose mood didn't improve when he returned to the dressing room to dis-cover the fate of his beloved West Ham, and Luke Wright.

The young all-rounder made an encouraging debut, bowling at a waspish pace and fielding tigerishly before smashing a rapid 21.

Martin-Jenkins lost partners regularly at the end including Akram, brilliantly run out in his follow through by Flintoff.

Mark Chilton was man of the match, as much for his patient half-century as the outstanding catch at mid-wicket which accounted for Murray Goodwin who can't buy a run at the moment. Mal Loye supported Chilton with 54 while Flintoff briefly threatened some fireworks, smashing one straight six onto a carwindscreen at the Cromwell Road end before he was snared by Mushtaq.

"They are an awesome side," admitted Adams. "At the moment you would have to say they are going to walk away with the Championship and totesport League so this was always going to be a tough match.

"But we bowled and fielded well and I think we have turned up a winner in Luke Wright.

He won't be the prettiest player, but he's a performer.

"He showed no nerves when he batted in a difficult situation and for someone of his age to be bowling upwards of 80mph is very pleasing."