Sussex all-rounder Mike Yardy made a sensational start to his England ODI career with three prized Pakistan wickets.

Yardy took 3-24 from his ten overs in the fourth match of the series at Trent Bridge yesterday including two wickets in three balls.

In his third over Yardy removed Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, two players with nearly 350 ODI appearances between them.

Yousuf was just 13 short of lodging 10,000 ODI runs in his 223rd game when Yardy, bowling around the wicket, deceived him with an arm ball clocked at 79mph.

Then in the same over Malik, who has played in 122 ODIs, drove a simple return catch and fell for nought.

Yardy removed Kamran Akmal in his seventh over when Pakistan's wicketkeeper edged to slip trying to hit with the spin.

A dry, gripping Nottingham pitch assisted Yardy even though he is not renowned as a great spinner of the ball.

He said: "I didn't expect it to go that way. The pitch suited my type of bowling.

"I knew it was going to stop in the pitch but I didn't expect it to turn that much. I've never turned it much in my life before."

Yardy was not needed to bat, where he was due to come in at No. 7, as England won by eight wickets but he could force his way into the squad for next month's Champions Trophy in India which is announced on Monday.

Sussex coach Mark Robinson said: "It's a great achievement for Yards and he deserves it because he has worked so hard at his game."

Sean Heather struck a chanceless unbeaten 171 to steer Sussex 2nd XI to a stunning five-wicket win over Essex at Halstead.

Heather fired 21 fours in his superb 248-ball innings as Sussex, set 351 to win in a minimum of 87 overs, recovered from 29-2 to stay in the title race.

Heather shared in a crucial third wicket stand of 122 with Andrew Hodd (61).

bruce.talbot@theargus.co.uk