Dawid Malan and Paul Stirling inspired Middlesex to a record-breaking victory against Sussex in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The duo put on a blistering opening stand of 187 as the visitors racked up a mammoth total of 221-2 at Hove.

Malan made a career-best 115 not out from just 64 balls while Stirling blasted 88 off 47 deliveries having been dropped on 33 by Will Beer.

Luke Wright smashed 91 from just 47 balls to give Sussex a glimmer of hope but did not find enough support as the Sharks finished on 179-9.

Middlesex skipper Eoin Morgan had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss and Stirling carried on from where he left off last night against Kent.

The Ireland international had smacked a 50-ball 90 to help Middlesex score 205-5 at Lord’s and this time found support from Malan.

Sterling hit the first of four sixes off Chris Jordan who had dashed back from Headingley after not being selected for the second Test against New Zealand.

The Middlesex openers had already put on 59 inside six overs when Beer failed to hold a steepling catch with the sun in his eyes.

Sterling took full advantage as together with Malan they brought up the Middlesex hundred inside ten overs and the 150 after 13.

Records tumbled along the way with their partnership the highest for Middlesex in Twenty20 cricket and the highest against Sussex by any team.

All the Sussex bowlers bore the brunt of their assault but there was at least something to smile about for Ollie Robinson.

He bowled Stirling and then removed Morgan first ball to briefly halt Middlesex’s momentum.

Malan went on to bring up his second T20 century from 58 balls and passed his previous highest score of 103.

Sussex needed some fireworks of their own from their top order to stand any chance of chasing down such an imposing total but lost Chris Nash and Mahela Jayawardene inside the first four overs.

Wright turned the tide with a superb display of hitting, smashing James Franklin for a six to bring up his half century from just 21 balls.

The Sharks captain looked on course for a hundred when he holed out off the bowling of Kyle Abbott for 91 from 47 balls.

Jordan followed next ball for 35 and the rest of the Sussex batting put up little resistance, Abbott dismissing Piolet and Robinson in successive balls to finish with career best figures of 5-14.