Sussex lost by 74 runs against Middlesex at Hove today in the Royal London One Day Cup.

Sharks were looking for back-to-back wins after an impressive 75-run win at Somerset on Tuesday but never threatened to overhaul the visitors’ target.

Middlesex, who were put into bat, set a target of 288-4 thanks largely to an impressive partnership from opening duo Paul Stirling and Nick Gubbins on a slow track.

Stirling, despite suffering a thigh injury during his innings which required him to use a runner, led the way with a knock of 116 off 129 balls which included nine fours and two sixes.

It was Stirling's second century in less than a week after his 125 against Kent earlier in the competition. 

The pair put on 198 for the first wicket before Gubbins was trapped lbw by Danny Briggs for 86.

Spinner Briggs also claimed Stirling’s wicket as Michael Burgess held on to a catch at deep mid-wicket.

Eoin Morgan tried to accelerate the run-rate but Harry Finch held a fierce drive at cover for 23 and Hilton Cartwright departed for 27 as Finch grasped a skied effort.

John Simpson rode his luck, though, as he was dropped three times in his unbeaten 22.

Ishant Sharma was the pick of the Sharks’ bowlers with a miserly 10-1-39-0.

Sussex were always chasing the game as wickets tumbled regularly.

Phil Salt and Luke Wells both went cheaply inside the first six overs off the bowling of Steve Finn, who finished with 3-29. 

Finch and skipper Ben Brown found it hard going to beat the field.

Finch (16) departed driving Ravi Patel back down the ground to a fine catch from sub fielder James Harris.

And Sharks looked in big trouble when Brown played on to Patel for 24 to leave them floundering on 61-4.

Michael Burgess made his intentions clear from early on and made a quickfire 24-ball 37 before Nathan Sowter held onto a big shot off Patel coming in off the short boundary.

Laurie Evans and David Wiese put on 51 for the sixth wicket as they tried to turn the game in Sharks’ favour.

Wiese smashed three sixes before Evans was unlucky when trying to put the pressure on Middlesex when he came down the track and a Sowter delivery kept low to remove him for 34.

Robinson (17) top-edged a Patel ball to Gubbins to leave Sussex on 192-7 as the momentum stayed firmly in Middlesex’s favour before Briggs was clean bowled by the returning Finn with just three more added to the total.

When Wiese went for a fine 57 the writing was on the wall with Sharma the last man out as Sharks were dismissed for 214.

Patel finished with fine figures of 4-58.