Sussex Sharks kicked off their NatWest T20 Blast season with victory over Gloucestershire at the Brightside Ground, Bristol, by a single run on Duckworth Lewis tonight.

However, the Sharks needed a little help from the rain to achieve their opening night success in the West Country.

Chasing 243 to win, Gloucestershire looked well on course to at least take the game to the wire when the rains came. It was an agonising end for the host county whose 83-1, off 7.3 overs, left them just one short of their required target on the D/L method.

Sharks skipper Ross Taylor anchored the innings. The 32-year-old's unbeaten 93, off just 48 balls, helped Sussex to their highest ever T20 total, beating the 239-5 scored against Glamorgan in 2010.

He got excellent support from Ben Brown (43) and Matt Machan (31).

Taylor said; "When a game gets settled in that manner there is always going to be one team that is disappointed.

"There have been one or two issues in the IPL when the rain has come and to be honest in the future, hopefully there can be a bit better system. It seems strange that you can score so many runs and then win by only one run.

"But I thought we played some smart cricket and I was really impressed with the way Ben Brown worked the short boundary. He batted really well. It was smart cricket.

"I feel as though if we continue to play like this and build on this, we will be okay this season."