Montgomerie and Nash steer Sussex to Trophy victory

Winners: Sussex 2nd XI celebrate their Horsham success

Sussex cruised to a six-wicket victory in the Second XI Trophy Final at Horsham – with veteran Richard Montgomerie cracking 88 and up-and-coming batsman Chris Nash an unbeaten 72 to see them past Nottinghamshire.

Winning the toss and putting the visitors in after heavy overnight rain, Sussex capitalised on any advantage from the conditions as they restricted Notts to 212 for nine from their 50 overs.

The total looked to be 40-50 runs shy of a competitive target, and so it proved as skipper Montgomerie led from the top of the order, and despite holing out in the dying stages ensured a first bit of silverware in what could yet prove to be an exciting end of the season for Sussex.

Richard Montgomerie receives the trophy from Mike Beckwith of the Sussex Cricket Board

On the verge of promotion from totesport League Division Two, still in the Frizzell County Championship shake-up – albeit a step behind Notts approaching the final straight of that first class race – and on familiar territory, having played all their group games at the picturesque venue, Sussex still had one final ace up their sleeves.

Only two weeks previously, Nash helped steer Horsham CC to victory in the Cockspur Cup final at Lord’s, and he didn’t disappoint back at his club home with 2-21 from four overs and a brisk half century to get Sussex past a mini wobble mid-innings.

With Montgomerie and Luke Wright racing to a 73-run start, Notts skipper Paul Franks turned to former England U19 skipper Samit Patel – whose slow left arm spin threatened to stop Sussex in their tracks.

Wright was trapped lbw for 25, Carl Hopkinson bowled for a duck, and another in the 2nd XI with Championship experience this season, keeper Tim Ambrose, playing on for three, leaving Sussex 86 for three.

But some lusty blows from Nash and a steady flow of runs from Montgomerie at the other end in a partnership of 106 effectively sealed the result, despite the latter giving Charlie Shreck a late wicket for his efforts. Sussex reached 213 for four with 6.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Notts' innings had been built around a 91-run third-wicket partnership between Patel (53) and Joshua Mierkalns (69).