Joyce propels Sussex
Ed Joyce's superb 127, which spanned 125 deliveries, formed the foundation of Sussex's daunting 313 for six
Sussex moved into contention for a quarter-final place in the Friends Provident Trophy after two former England internationals helped wrap up a 56-run win over Durham at Hove.
Ed Joyce laid the foundations with a one-day best of 127 as Sussex amassed 313 for the second day running, and James Kirtley weighed in with 6-50 - the best figures of his career - including a devastating burst of 5-11 in 17 balls which wrecked Durham's lower order.
A week after he made an unbeaten 103 in Sussex's eight-wicket win at the Riverside, 30-year-old left-hander Joyce launched their innings by putting on 110 in 20 overs with Joe Gatting.
Gatting got an under-edge to wicketkeeper Phil Mustard off Ian Blackwell the ball after reaching his maiden one-day half-century, but Joyce grew in confidence, lofting Gareth Breese into the pavilion for the first of two sixes as he added 49 with Luke Wright, 42 with Murray Goodwin and 55 in six overs with skipper Michael Yardy.
All three of his partners perished trying to accelerate but Joyce pressed on to reach his sixth one-day hundred with a pulled six over backward square-leg off Dale Benkenstein while Steve Harmison, who took 1-51 from six overs, proved expensive.
Joyce, who passed 5,000 List A runs when he reached 105, was eventually caught at deep midwicket off Blackwell for 127, made off 125 balls and containing nine fours and two sixes, but Sussex plundered 102 runs off the last 12 overs to hoist their total above 300.
Phil Mustard reverse-sweeps to good effect on the way to a run-a-ball 92 - but he could not stave off defeat for Durham
Durham’s reply got off to a good start with Mustard and Michael Di Venuto adding 59 before the latter played across a straight one from Robin Martin-Jenkins.
Will Smith was superbly caught at long-on by Wright after putting on 68 with Mustard and Durham were threatening to overhaul their target during an explosive alliance between Mustard and fellow left-hander Blackwell for the third wicket.
They added 61 in just eight overs with Mustard smashing one of three sixes through the window of a toilet block. Dropped on 69 by Will Beer at long-on, he was trying to clear the rope again when he found Rory Hamilton-Brown off Kirtley, who had returned to the attack to stem the onslaught.
Durham's hopes receded in the next over when Blackwell was run out after being sent back by Benkenstein trying to steal a single into the off side, and their lower order had no answer to Kirtley’s devastating mix of slower balls and yorkers.
A third successive victory lifted Sussex into second place in Group C ahead of Friday's floodlit tussle with unbeaten leaders Gloucestershire at Hove.
