Sussex overtook Surrey to regain second place in Group A of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a comfortable six-wicket victory at Guildford. When Chris Nash and Murray Goodwin departed in the 24th over of the visitors' reply, it looked as if Surrey might sidestep having posted a below par total on a ground where runs tend to be easier to come by. But an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 113 in 15 overs between Michael Yardy and Andrew Hodd saw the Sharks home sealed with ten balls to spare. The result keeps alive Sussex's hopes of a semi-final berth, but leaves Surrey, who still have to travel to Taunton and Hove, one bad performance away from exclusion.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Lions raced to 41 in four overs, during which Rory Hamilton-Brown launched James Kirtley over long-off for six. But left-armer Chris Liddle pegged things back with the wickets of the Surrey skipper and Steven Davies, both of whom miscued high to mid-on, in overs six and eight.

Stewart Walters then shared in stands of 84 and 51 with Mark Ramprakash and Matthew Spriegel. Although his alliance with Ramprakash was the more productive, the hosts' could have done with Ramprakash finding the boundary more than twice. The only time the former Middlesex man cut really loose during his 51-ball stay at the crease was when he picked Kirtley up over mid-wicket for six in the 24th over.

The next over saw Walters reach his first fifty of the summer in one-day cricket, which came off 58 deliveries, with a cut four off Yardy. But, in the 26th over, Ramprakash was bowled heaving across the line and, moments later, Monty Panesar beat Jason Roy in the flight to have the 19-year-old stumped.

In the 30th over, Walters pulled Ragheb Aga off the front foot for six. But immediately following a break for drinks Spriegel, looking to drive a full and wide delivery, was caught behind for a quick 30. Two overs later, Walters holed out to deep cover point and Surrey's hopes of setting Sussex seven an over fizzled out when Gary Wilson dragged Yasir Arafat on to the top of his off stump to make it 239-7.

In reply, the Sharks' openers brought the fifty up in the seventh over. Spriegel's introduction to the attack produced the wicket of Ed Joyce, caught at long-off. In the 17th over, Joe Gatting took his side past one hundred with a four through extra cover off Spriegel. But, three overs later, Chris Tremlett's first ball back proved too good for the 22-year-old.

Nash's fifty, which came off 57 deliveries, was brought up with a pulled six off the wayward Tim Linley. But, two overs later, Gareth Batty accounted for Nash, sweeping, caught at backward square leg, and then Goodwin.

The outcome was still in the balance with six overs to go and Sussex requiring 52. But, in the 37th over, Yardy launched Tremlett over wide long-on for six and Hodd started the 38th with a four through extra cover and an on driven maximum off Dernbach.

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