Things go from bad to appalling for Sussex Sharks in the National League.

Already bottom of the second division, they were smashed out of sight by leaders Gloucestershire Gladiators, who romped home by six wickets.

Most of the 4,000 full-house crowd at Cheltenham will have gone home feeling they had been short-changed after a thoroughly one-sided game which was all over by at 4.45pm.

Once again, Sussex's inability to post any sort of a total proved their downfall.

They have only scored over 200 once in nine games and on a flat, bouncy pitch with short square boundaries and a lightning-fast outfield, 250 was probably par after Richard Montgomerie had won the toss.

Instead they were dismissed for 116 before Australian Ian Harvey savaged their attack in an unbeaten 68 off just 43 balls as Gloucestershire raced to victory with 28.3 overs unused.

Harvey's belligerence put the conditions into perspective.

Sussex's batsmen, on the other hand, have been bewitched by the white ball for most of the season but yesterday they reached rock bottom. Coach Peter Moores called their batting "reckless" and he wasn't wrong.

Four of their top six found the boundary with their first scoring shot, but only two players got past 16 as Gloucestershire's attack bowled straight and waited for their opponents to find different ways of getting themselves out.

Harvey removed Will House, who hit three fours before edging to Jack Russell, and Tim Ambrose in his first spell before left-armer Mike Smith got in on the act with wickets in successive overs.

Murray Goodwin edged one that just held its line and Montgomerie was beaten by late seam movement after making 23.

When Tony Cottey pushed forward to James Averis to give Russell more work, Sussex had lost half their side for 56 and the innings was still only 13 overs old.

There was a recovery of sorts from Matt Prior and Robin Martin-Jenkins, the only two batsmen to pass 50 in the competition all season.

They put on 30 in eight overs for the sixth wicket, but when Prior drilled Averis straight to mid off Sussex were on the slide again.

Off-spinner Martyn Ball polished things off with four wickets in 11 balls. Martin-Jenkins was leg before offering no shot, Jason Lewry played back and was caught behind, Billy Taylor drove a return catch and Mark Robinson prodded down the wrong line and gave Russell a county record-equalling fifth catch in the competition's various guises.

Defending such a puny total was asking too much of Sussex's bowlers and although Robinson had Tim Hancock caught behind with his second ball in the third over, the veteran seamer was soon wishing he had stayed in retirement.

In his next over poor old Robbo disappeared for 25 as Harvey belted five fours including one from a free hit after the bowler had over-stepped.

Robinson's three overs went for 43 and Taylor and Lewry found themselves on the receiving end as well as the Australian picked off anything a fraction short or wide. He, at least, was determined to give the spectators some value for money.

Lewry and Taylor both picked up a wicket and House's direct hit ran out Mark Alleyne before victory was secured after just 17.2 overs with Harvey's unbeaten 68 coming off 43 deliveries, 13 of which went for four.

The sides are due to meet again in a day-night game on Monday week, but if Sussex perform as they did yesterday they will not need to worry about putting the floodlights on.