Sussex through at expense of Cornwall

Sussex eased through to the fourth round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy after a 33-run win over Cornwall at Truro.

Honour was satisfied on both sides. Sussex never looked in danger of missing a fourth round appointment at Old Trafford while the minor county's defeat was the smallest they have suffered in five matches in the competition.

Skipper Chris Adams underpinned Sussex's 253-6 with an undefeated 89 from 103 balls which earned him the man-of-the-match award from former England seamer Chris Old.

A slow pitch inhibited the stroke-players on both sides, but good running between the wickets kept the scoreboard ticking over, particularly when Adams was putting on 96 for the second wicket with in-form Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin who made 66 after twice being dropped at slip in the first four overs off the luckless Justin Stephens.

There were useful contributions all the way down the Cornwall order, but no one was able to anchor their innings in the way Adams had.

South African all rounder Steve Pope, who had earlier taken 2-44, made 29 before he was bowled by Mark Robinson and hopes of an upset were briefly raised by Tom Sharp and Jon Kent in a fifth wicket stand of 62 in 11 overs with both batsmen making 30.

But after they were parted Cornwall settled on respectability in front of a crowd of over 1,000 at picturesque Boscawen Park. Youngster James Hands had earlier made 33 while Jason Lewry was the pick of Sussex's attack with 3-43.