Sussex are coming to the boil nicely in the totesport League after Matt Prior guided them to a precious victory over promotion rivals Worcestershire at Hove last night.

Prior made an unbeaten 56 off just 44 balls as the Sharks, chasing a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 117 from 20 overs eased home with ten balls to spare to move into the top three.

Prior made his fifth half-century of the season in the competition, helping Murray Goodwin put together a match-winning partnership of 51 in six overs.

They had got the target down to 23 from 29 balls when another shower forced the players off for three overs. When they returned, the equation was two runs from 11 balls and it was all over straight away when Andrew Hall speared the ball down the leg side for four wides.

Sussex's first win over the Royals at Hove since 1993 could not have been better timed. Wins in their remaining games against Durham and already promoted Middlesex would take them to 44 points and no side has not been promoted with that total since the one-day league was split into two divisions in 1999.

Three big overs enabled Sussex to make short work of what looked a tricky target under the lights. Fourteen came off the ninth over when Prior lofted Gareth Batty's off-spin over the long on boundary for six and 15 were plundered off slow left-armer Ray Price who managed to donate two free hits by overstepping twice, this off a run-up of just four paces.

But Worcestershire's hopes were effectively scuppered in the next over. Goodwin was dropped by Batty at fine leg and Stephen Moore shelled a slightly more difficult chance at third man off Prior's sliced drive. No wonder Australian Andy Bichel appeared to have steam coming out of his ears as he stomped back to his mark.

To add to his woes, the ball trickled over the boundary rope on both occasions. Sussex took 13 off the over and they were in cruise control from there on in.

Prior also struck seven boundaries from just 44 balls to reward the patience of Sussex supporters who have seen their side reel off five successive wins for the first time since they were last promoted five years ago.

The Royals had been indebted to opener Stephen Moore who laboured dilligently for 40 overs to make 76 from 111 balls.

It was a crucial contribution by the South African given that the more recognised stroke-players at the top of Worcestershire's order all struggled on a pitch offering pace and bounce for bowlers operating down the slope.

Only Middlesex's Paul Weekes has scored more runs in the second division than Vikram Solanki, but Solanki only improved his aggregate by one before he was caught behind off James Kirtley in the second over.