Sussex got their NatWest T20 Blast campaign back on track with a resounding victory over Middlesex at Hove.

The Sharks fought back brilliantly with the ball after being on the end of an early onslaught from Paul Stirling who smashed 52 from 24 balls.

Danny Briggs got rid of Stirling and went on to claim figures of 3-24 while Will Beer picked up 2-23 as Middlesex collapsed from 71-1 to 146 all out.

Sussex wobbled slightly when they lost Phil Salt and skipper Luke Wright in the space of five balls to slip to 73-3 but Ross Taylor and Matt Machan guided them to a seven-wicket win with ten balls to spare.

The result ended a run of four matches without a win and lifted Sussex above Middlesex to third place in the South Group.

Stirling gave the Middlesex innings a supercharged start after being put in by Sussex as he latched on to some loose bowling and sloppy fielding in the powerplay.

The Ireland international reached his half century from just 21 balls – the fastest in the competition this season – including sixes off Nuwad Kulasekara and Tymal Mills.

Mills’ first over went for 17 – more than his four overs went for altogether at Kent last night – but he did pick up the wicket of the dangerous Dawid Malan.

After 5.4 overs Middlesex were racing along at 71-1 but the wheels came off in spectacular fashion.

Kulasekara sparked the collapse when he produced a perfect yorker to get rid of John Simpson but it was the wicket of Stirling which put the skids under the visitors when he edged Briggs to the wicketkeeper.

Middlesex continued to lose wickets at regular intervals with only George Bailey and Nick Gubbins getting into double figures after Malan and Stirling.

Bailey made 16 before he was bowled through the gate by Will Beer who also picked up the wicket of James Franklyn, well caught by Kulasekara at long off.

Gubbins smashed 32 from 21 balls to hint at a Middlesex revival but Briggs ended his cameo and then had Ryan Higgins caught and bowled from the very next ball.

After the spinners had led the fightback it was the seamers who finished off the job with Ajmal Shahzad, Mills and Kulasekara each picking up a wicket to wrap up the Middlesex innings with 14 balls remaining.

Middlesex’s total was well under par on a good wicket so required early wickets to make things tough for Sussex.

Chris Nash smashed James Fuller for two sixes but then chipped Toby Roland-Jones straight to the fielder at mid-wicket for 18.

Phil Salt made his highest Twenty20 score of 27 but was then caught at long off attempting a switch-hit off Nathan Sowter.

When Luke Wright followed in the last over – edging Harry Podmore behind for 23 – Sussex were in danger of collapsing in similar fashion to Middlesex.

But Taylor once again showed his experience by anchoring the Sussex innings and found an able partner in Machan.

The pair put on an unbeaten stand of 74 in 61 balls to ease Sussex home with Taylor finishing on 33 not out and Machan - who was dropped on five by Sowter - 41.