Danny Briggs revealed how a pep talk from skipper Luke Wright helped Sussex return to winning ways in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Wright called his players together after the Sharks had been on the receiving end of a brutal onslaught from Paul Stirling in the powerplay at Hove.

Stirling raced to his half century from just 21 balls – the fastest in the competition this season – but the Middlesex innings collapsed after he was dismissed for 52 by Briggs.

Briggs went on to take 3-24 as Middlesex were bowled out for 146 and Sussex eased to victory with seven wickets to spare in the 19th over.

Briggs said: “The start wasn’t ideal as they had a big powerplay. Stirling got them off to a flier but Luke got us together and said we needed to keep our heads as we could easily have gone into our shells and allowed them to make over 200.

“We were able to put the squeeze on in the middle overs and took wickets at key times to turn it around.”

Phil Salt made a career-best 27 but it was a partnership of 74 between Matt Machan and Ross Taylor which steered Sussex home with ten balls to spare.

Machan was unbeaten on 41 after being dropped on five by Nathan Sowter while Taylor continued his impressive form in the competition with 33 not out.

The result lifted Sussex above Middlesex into third place in the South Group ahead of their next game at Glamorgan next Thursday.

Briggs added: “It was an important win as they are a good team. There is still a long way to go in the competition but we have given ourselves a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.”