Sussex will have the chance to send off Peter Moores in style by winning the National League second division title at Hove on Sunday.

An easy 61-run win over Kent at Canterbury yesterday means victory over a Yorkshire side who have not beaten county opposition in the competition since they defeated Sussex at Headingley on May 1 will be enough regardless how Durham, who clinched promotion by beating Somerset yesterday, fare in their last match against Warwickshire.

On a dry pitch which offered some extra bounce it was not surprising that the tallest bowler on view, Robin Martin-Jenkins, came up with the match-winning cameo.

Martin-Jenkins ripped the heart out of Kent's reply when he removed Matt Walker and Darren Stevens with his third and fourth deliveries and Martin van Jaarsveld in his third over.

Walker mis-timed a drive to wide mid on, Stevens edged a ball while Van Jaarsveld was caught on the mid-wicket boundary.

James Kirtley had made the breakthrough in the first over when Nick Dexter played on and Joe Denly soon lost his off stump to Rana Naved.

There was no way back for Kent from 48-5 in the 13th over.

Michael Carberry kept Sussex waiting with a half-century before he was yorked by Kirtley, and there were wickets for Luke Wright and Mike Yardy before Kirtley wrapped things up with 24 balls remaining with a juggling return catch to remove Robbie Josephs his 30th league wicket of the season.

Coach Mark Robinson can even claim a part in Sussex's promotion campaign after making a brief appearance as second substitute fielder in Wright's spare shirt!

For once Chris Adams was happy to lose the toss because he was uncertain how the pitch would play. In the event a total of 230-9 was more than sufficient and the skipper played his part in making sure Sussex got a total that was probably 20 runs over par.

Sussex needed their experienced batsmen to produce with Murray Goodwin back in Australia and Ian Ward sidelined because of a trapped nerve in his neck and Adams and Richard Montgomerie, who put on 111 in 22 overs, did not disappoint.

No one timed their shots all day better than Montgomerie who hit eight fours in 72 off 82 balls before he was caught off the splice when Martin Saggers returned to the Kent attack in the 29th over.

Adams had played well within himself before he was snaffled by the diving James Tredwell off a leading edge and losing those two in successive overs meant Sussex had to rebuild.

Yardy, Carl Hopkinson and Tim Ambrose made sure they did with contributions.

Ward should be fit for the final Championship match against Kent at Hove, starting on Wednesday. Victory could secure runners-up spot behind new champions Nottinghamshire if Hampshire, who are second after beating Glamorgan yesterday, fail to beat Notts.

Meanwhile, Matt Prior is expected to be named in the 16-man squad for England's winter tours of Pakistan and India when it is announced later today while Yardy is hoping to gain a place in the National Academy squad.

Monday, September 19, 2005