Thrills as sides go six-crazy

SUSSEX will return next September to defend the Barclays Twenty20+ Challenge Cup. The 2003 county champions defeated the holders, Kent, by 54 runs at the KGV in an entertaining clash to set up a meeting with one-day experts Gloucestershire in 12 months' time.

'Kent have been outstanding when they have been over in the past couple of years, but things move on,' said Mike O'Hara, of event organiser, the Lord's Taverners.

'Sussex will be here next year playing against Gloucestershire and I am told that both sides will be bringing a lot of people over.'

Those present at the KGV on Saturday, particularly the many children, witnessed some very good cricket and much of the batting was superb as sixes were launched to all parts of the ground.

Matt Prior got things off to a spectacular start when he played the knock of the day for Sussex, falling one short of what would have been a memorable century.

He reached his fifty having faced just 18 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes, the pick of his maximums being a lofted back foot drive over extra cover.

He went on to add two more fours and one six to that tally in his 53-ball innings as his side notched up 177 for seven from their first 20 overs.

Kent then set up the second innings beautifully by reaching 179 for seven from their first innings.

Former England all-rounder Mark Ealham showed the sort of form that saw him win the Sky Sports Sixes League this summer, smashing nine maximums in his 82 that he made, incredibly, from just 31 deliveries.

Probably his biggest six was a straight drive over the groundsmen's hut off a Prior over that he plundered for 28.

In Sussex's second innings, it was Richard Montgomerie's turn to shine with the bat as he stroked a delightful unbeaten 78 from 50 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.

As the rain started to fall, Kent were left requiring 194 from their second allotment of 20 and they were in with a good shout for the first 12 overs until they collapsed from 114 for four to 139 all out. Again, Ealham was the main contributor with a quickfire 44 but an excellent catch by Carl Hopkinson out on the deep-square-leg boundary accounted for him and the holders' hopes had gone.

That wicket came off the last ball of Tony Cottey's first over and he then completed a hat-trick off the first two deliveries of his next to seal victory and the man-of-the-match award.

Hautes Capelles were the deserved winners of the Barclays Inter-School Kwik-Cricket tournament.

They defeated St Martin's in the final.