Sussex went down to defeat by three wickets in their opening one-day pre-season friendly against Kent at Hove.

The hosts posted 217-8 from their 45 overs, with Tony Cottey hitting 62, and Kent replied with 218-7 with four balls of their innings remaining.

Kent required 20 from their last two overs and James Tredwell effectively settled the issue by hoisting Billy Taylor for two sixes as 16 came off the penultimate over.

Tredwell, who finished unbeaten on 28, was given valuable support by Matthew Banes (32 not out) and earlier David Fulton (36) and Matthew Walker (39) added 43 for the fourth wicket.

Off-spinner Mark Davis accounted for Fulton, Michael Carberry and Geraint Jones on his way to taking 3-31 from eight overs. James Kirtley, skippering the side in the absence of Chris Adams, picked up the early wickets of Peter Trego and Ed Smith.

Taylor and Paul Hutchison each claimed a wicket apiece.

Cottey and all-rounder Kevin Innes earlier revived Sussex with a sixth-wicket stand of 63 after half their side had been removed for 98.

Cottey scored at nearly a run-a-ball before lofting medium-pacer Walker to deep mid-wicket.

Davis then joined Innes and the pair had added 31 when Davis fell for 15 to former Somerset paceman Trego, who also removed Kirtley on the way to taking 3-37.

Fast bowler Alamgir Sheriyar (3-15) gave Kent a good start by sending back Tim Ambrose and Bas Zuiderent cheaply, and he also had Robin Martin-Jenkins caught behind for 26.

Opener Richard Montgomerie was, like Martin-Jenkins, caught at the wicket for the same score off Ben Trott and Matthew Prior became Trego's first victim for only four.

Sussex face Kent again in another one-day match at Hove today.

Scores: Sussex 217-8 (45 overs); Kent 218-7 (44.2 overs).