Sussex are hoping Chris Nash’s big day might just give them a T20 head start.

The county honed their shortest-format skills with a pair of wins at Horsham over an Invitational XI drawn from the regional leagues by Chris Nash as part of his testimonial year.

They will continue with an in-house run out tomorrow before attention turns to the pink ball ahead of Gloucestershire’s four-day visit from Monday.

The NatWest T20 Blast takes up most of July and August and it will be a long summer if the Sharks are not ready.

Key pluses yesterday were Ben Brown’s return from a broken finger as he kept wicket for the full 40 overs and had time at the crease.

And Ollie Robinson underlined his recovery from a shin problem with eight overs in the heat.

Mark Davis watched the day’s action from a shady spot away from what looked a decent-sized crowd and saw the benefits of two competitive tussles.

The Sussex head coach said: “It was a very good exercise to do a bit of work prior to the T20 in a couple of weeks’ time.

“You don’t often get time to take a break from four-day cricket and have a day like this.

“Nashy’s day has worked perfectly for us and it is great testament to him that so many people came out.

“Most of the week has been T20 orientated.

"It was great to have Browny back again. He is batting well, he is keeping well and he is pain-free so it gives us a bit of a selection headache – but that is a good thing.

“Ollie has played in the second team so it’s nice to have him back and we will see how he pulls up from the games he has played.”

Davis added: “Selection is very open. We have got a young squad and we are trying to develop a format for T20.

“This was a good chance for people to put their hands up and show what they can do.”

A decision as to whether Brown, Nash or another candidate will continue as captain is likely in the next couple of days.

Davis said: “There will be probably be an announcement at the back end of the week.”

At least Sussex now have their eye in.

No one more so than Luke Wright as he hit a century in the first match.

He was dropped on the boundary off a routine chance just after passing 50 but peppered spectators basking in the sunshine in the later stages of the innings.

Sussex, chasing 143 to win, got home with eight wickets and 6.4 overs remaining.

Spinners Danny Briggs and Will Beer took 2-18 and 2-28 respectively while David Wiese recorded 2-33, Ollie Robinson 2-39 and Jofra Archer 0-19 from four overs apiece.

Nash’s own fairytale script was not quite followed.

He played on to Kirk Edwards’ off the last ball of the first over for nought.

The local boy did better second time around but was brilliantly caught by the diving Andy Barr at cover point for 15.

Brown, with 72, and Delray Rawlins, with 42, were the chief contributors to a total of 187-6 from a spot of early trouble at 37-2 off six.

Sussex’s own Phil Salt, guesting for the opposition to get him batting time, then gave the Invitational XI an outside chance of winning before he looked unlucky to be given run out for 51.

Edwards hit 52 but Nash bowled the final over and finished with a wicket thanks to a brilliant catch right out on the deep mid-wicket boundary by the tumbling Harry Finch.