Sussex reckon Tony Cottey is their answer to Goldfinger right now.

Who Dares Wins might have been a more appropriate title for this latest Sussex Sharks thriller.

The Sharks kept alive flickering division two promotion hopes with a tense six-run success in a run feast at scorching Taunton.

They did so with the aid of a career best five-wicket haul from the little-used off-spin of Cottey, who earlier, like Murray Goodwin, had hit 50.

With Mark Davis kept out by a knee problem, Sussex asked Cottey and Michael Yardy to join Mushtaq Ahmed in a three-pronged spin attack once they saw the wicket was taking turn.

Crucially, they also had the nerve to keep Cottey on right up until the 44th over, when the bat was really flying.

He responded by removing Aaron Laraman and Simon Francis with successive balls, leaving Somerset needing 11 from the final over.

James Kirtley finished the job with a pinpoint accurate over, though there were a few alarms when the second delivery was called a no-ball by umpire Peter Willey.

It was not just down to one or two individuals. Sussex were better from one to 12. Yes, that's 12. Substitute fielder Kevin Innes came on and held a fine running catch at long-on when James Hildreth had a dart at Cottey.

Both sides held some sharp chances but, where Somerset's groundfielding was pitiful, Sussex's was inspired.

And then there was Mushtaq, keeping the hosts tied down and inviting Australian star Ricky Ponting to hit against the spin and edge to slip to end a 49-ball attack which featured ten fours.

Almost inevitably, that key catch was taken by Cottey.

Director of cricket Peter Moores said: "Everything Tony touches turns to gold at the moment.

"He had the confidence to take the pace off the ball a little bit and it worked well.

"All credit to the captain. He used his bowlers very intelligently.

"We knew Cotts might bowl once we saw the wicket before the game.

"The slow bowlers looked like they would be hard work and all credit to Yards and Cottey, they did a good job."

Cottey's experience was a crucial factor as he kept his head while most of a 3,500 crowd willed Somerset to a first totesport League win in six attempts.

He said: "It's a bit of fun for me. There was always a chance me and Mike Yardy might get a bowl and I just wanted to make them hit it.

"It was always hard for the batsmen to do that when there was no pace on the ball."

Asked whether skipper Chris Adams had been brave to keep his occasional spinner on until the death, Cottey admitted: "Very brave. I wouldn't have done it if I was him."

Sussex were grateful to see several players contribute to a battling batting effort.

Their only real hiccup came just before midway when Yardy called Adams for a non-existent single to covers, then was beaten by turn from Keith Dutch and edged to the keeper.

His 37 was a decent knock, though and, added to his bowling effort and an ankle-high catch at long-off to send back big-hitting Ian Blackwell, made for a fine day's work. Goodwin and Cottey put things back on course with a stand of 102 in just 16 overs.

They reached 50 at almost identical pace before being caught looking to accelerate.

Goodwin got there in 53 balls, including six fours, before launching into the woefully out-of-touch Richard Johnson and seeing Keith Parsons dive to his left for an astonishing one-handed catch at mid-wicket.

Cottey's 54-ball 50 included three fours plus a six when he picked up Dutch on the half volley and superbly deposited him over the long mid-wicket boundary.

He was going for the same bit of rope when Hildreth removed him with a fine catch above his head.