Sussex v Notts

So Sussex go three points at the top of the first division with six wins out of seven. They finish at New Road on September 27 with the title race almost certainly going to the last game of the season.

Now it's time to concentrate on the Champo with two big games coming up at Hove against Warwickshire, starting on Wednesday, and Yorkshire. Join me on Wednesday for updates and don't forget to check the main site later for previews and reviews of tonight's action.

WICKET: Notts 73-7 (14.4)

Smith's got a hat-trick! Sensational stuff by the big Bajan. Shafayat shovelled his third ball to Kirtley at short fine leg, Kevin O'Brien walked across a straight one and now Jake Ball, on debut, has had his off bail trimmed by a beauty which pitched on middle and nipped away. What a moment for big Dwayne and the celebration was something else as well as he ran off towards the dressing rooms with his team-mates in hot pursuit. Fantastic stuff. Game over now you would think, Smith has 5-13 from 4 overs. Patel is 4 and Alex Carter is the new batsman.

WICKET: Notts 73-4 (14.1)

Take a bow Andrew Hodd. fabulous catch diving full length to his left to hold on inches from the turf after Hales got a big deflection on a ball from Smith angled across him. He made 33 and we've had three wickets in 18 balls for six runs. Patel 3, Bilal Shafayat the new batsman.

WICKET: Notts 68-3 (13)

Two wickets in six balls have changed the mood here. RMJ struck with his first ball as Patel, who'd got bogged down a bit, was caught by Hodd off a top-edged drive for 22. Now the bug wicket of Voges as the Aussie is yorked by a clearly pumped-up Dwayne Smith for 1. Hales 32, Samit Patel yet to score. The Sussex vocal choir are going through their full repertoire in the south-east corner, much to the dismay of the man from The Times.

Notts 53-1 (8.3)

Smith into the attack after four overs from Keegan which went for 26. "Have a blow Chadders" texted a mate during his last over. Bit harsh that. These two look quite comfortable. Patel 21, Hales 19.

WICKET: Notts 32-1 (5.5)

Good comeback by Keegan. Patel hit three fours off his second over but now he has foxed Wood with a slower ball which the Notts skipper drove to Chawla to mid off for 9. Patel 16, Alex Hales the new batsman on 3.

Notts 4-0 (1)

Inauspicious start for Chad Keegan who overstepped first ball bowled a dot with the free hit. Wood opening with Akhit Patel, Samit's younger brother, who is making his one-day debut for Notts. Kirtley now from the Cromwell Road end.

SUSSEX 254 all out (40)

Three wickets in the last two overs. Yardy holed out to long on for 34 in Patel's last over and RMJ was yorked next ball for 3. Now Chad Keegan has been caught behind having a swish at the last ball of the innings from Carter. Sussex have made a competitive score but is it enough? from 152-2 they have rather lost their way. All of the top six got starts but RHB's 49 was the highest score.

WICKET: Sussex 232-7 (36)

Yardy and Hodd steadied the ship but Hodd has just been carelessly run out for 14. Yardy pushed the first ball of Patel's new spell into the covers, Hodd set off and was sent back and didn't even bother to stop even though the decision was referred to the third umpire. Out for 14. Yardy is 21 and Robin Martin-Jenkins is the new batsmen. 16 overs only by the seamers tonight, the rest spin so expect Yardy, Chawla and RHB to do a lot of bowlin' later.

WICKET: Sussex 195-6 (30.4)

Oh dear, Sussex are in danger of making a pig's ear of this. Chawla has just been run out for a duck. Yardy played a reserve sweep straight to short third man and sent Chawla back as he came three or four paces down the pitch. Chawla dawdled too much and Wood's throw to the non-striker's end was accurate enough. Poor cricket by Chawla there. Andy Hodd in now with Yardy who is 4.

WICKET: Sussex 193-5 (30.2)

That's three in four overs for Voges who has just got the key wicket of Smith, caught at backward point off a sliced drive for 27 with two sixes off Patel in the previous over. Palpable sense of anti-climax when he got out. Chawla yet to get off the mark and here's Yardy.

WICKET: Sussex 186-4 (29.4)

Now Goodwin gets established but fails to go on. Aiming through mid-on he gets a leading edge and is caught by the diving Voges off his own bowling for 39. Surprise promotion to six in the order for Piyush Chawla. Smith has just smacked big Samit onto the roof of the Gilligan for his first six to move to 20.

Sussex 165-3 (27)

Joyce out for 42, finding Samit Patel at mid-wicket as he tried to clear the leg side off Adam Voges' first ball. Voges replaced Patel who has now switched to the sea end. Dwayne Smith promoted ahead of Mike Yardy and there is an expectant hush around the ground at the mo in the expectation that Dwayne will tee off. Goodwin 34, Smith 8 but the Notts' spinners have dragged this back pretty well.

Sussex 153-2 (23.2)

Joyce 40, Goodwin 28 and we've got mid-innings spin at both ends through Samit Patel and Jason Brown, the former Northants' offie who I saw bowl Sussex out on a bunsen at Northampton a few years ago. Ages since Sussex played there in the Champo. Let's hope they are not going back in 2010 (unless the Cobblers go up) - big game here on Wednesday against Warwickshire.

WICKET: Sussex 104-2 (14.5)

Successful switch of ends for Carter who has just bowled Gatting middle stump via an inside edge as he looked to drive through the off side. He made 21. Suspect this glued pitch will become slower as the game continues so Notts' decision to chase is slightly baffling. Joyce looks as if he's booked in for a biggie. He is 24 and has now been joined by Murray Goodwin.

WICKET: Sussex 73-1 (9.2)

Wicket with his eighth ball on his debut for Jake Ball as RHB's superb cameo ends as he drills the ball to Wood at mid off. 27 balls, 6x4, 3x6 so 42 runs in boundaries. Joyce is 20 and Joe Gatting has joined him.

Sussex 52-0 (5)

Carnage as RHB lofts a free hit from Shreck for his third six and we've only had five overs. It's his second off Shreck, whom he carted over backward square in his previous over. Andy Carter's been withdrawn after two overs and it's now another Notts' rookie Jake Hall in the firing line at the sea end. His first ball has been pummelled through square by Joyce for four. He is 15 and RHB 37. Looks a very one-sided contest this.

Sussex 22-0 (2.2)

Early problems for Notts with Andy Carter's first over going for 15 runs included a pulled six by Hamilton-Brown backward of square. He is 17, Joyce 4.

Good afternoon and welcome to a sunny, warm Hove for our online coverage of Sussex's crucial Pro40 game against Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

The reigning Pro40 champions have to win tonight to keep the pressure on Somerset and ensure that their title defence goes to the final game at Worcester on September 27.

Sussex team as expected with Chad Keegan replacing Yasir Arafat and Piyush Chawla in for Will Beer.

Raft of changes for Notts with the likes of Alistair Brown, Chris Read and Darren Pattinson all missing. Not entirely unexpected: Notts are bottom of the league (remember there is no relegation as this is the last year of Pro40 in its current format) and they only finished a Championship match against Yorkshire yesterday. Their next one is at Durham on Wednesday. Go figure that scheduling.

It's another glued pitch which should be full of runs. Stand in Outlaws' skipper Matt Wood won the toss and put Sussex in.

Sussex: Hamilton-Brown, Joyce, Gatting, Goodwin, Yardy, Smith, Hodd, Martin-Jenkins, Chawla, Keegan, Kirtley.

Notts: Wood, A.Patel, Hales, Voges, S.Patel, Shafayat (wk), O'Brien, Hall, Carter, Shreck, Brown.

Some news on the Champions League squad on the main cricket page with Matt Prior rested.