Joyce sees Middlesex home

Ed Joyce produced a captain's knock to see his side to victory

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Skipper Ed Joyce steered Middlesex home by six wickets with a cool unbeaten 28 to boost his side's hopes of a home tie in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals.

The Crusaders successfully chased down a target of 152 with six balls to spare under the Hove floodlights to condemn Sussex to their seventh defeat in the competition.

Opener Billy Godleman set up the Crusaders' victory by cracking 69 from 49 balls with seven fours and two sixes, sharing an opening stand of 65 with Dan Housego (17).

Joyce and David Malan (15 not out) batted sensibly in the closing overs to see their side comfortably home with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 39 after Middlesex had slipped to 114 for four.

Middlesex's run-chase was given an ideal start with Godleman and Housego batting smoothly in eight overs before Housego was caught down the leg side off James Kirtley.

Tyrone Henderson (17) joined Godleman to add 36 in four overs with Henderson being bowled by Will Beer - whom he had earlier smacked over long-on for six.

Godleman's important innings was ended when he fell to a well-judged catch by Carl Hopkinson running round from long-on to give leg-spinner Beer his second wicket.

Mike Yardy earlier produced his highest score in eight innings in the competition this season by firing 43 as Sussex posted 151 for seven on winning the toss.

Yardy added 45 in four overs for the second wicket with Matt Prior, who thumped three fours and two sixes in making 30 from 17 before he skied David Burton to long-on.

Sharks stumbled in mid-innings with former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith and Rory Hamilton-Brown falling in quick succession and they had lost half their side for 103 when Chris Nash pulled Steve Finn to midwicket.

Paceman Finn, who finished with 3-22 from four overs, ended Yardy's 41-ball innings in the 15th over with the left-hander caught at cover attempting to pull.

Sharks slipped to 119 for seven when Andrew Hodd was trapped leg before by Henderson for five, but Carl Hopkinson (26) and Beer (17) steered the hosts past 150 by adding an unbroken 32 in the final three overs.