Sussex face a floodlit showdown with Kent to decide runners-up spot in their Twenty20 Cup group tomorrow.

Victory could take the Sharks into the last four after Saturday's dramatic seven-run defeat of Essex.

Sussex and Kent are neck and neck and the winners of tomorrow's meeting at Hove (7.30pm) could go through as best runners-up depending on run rate calculations.

Peter Moores believes his side can do it.

The Sussex coach said: "We are at a slight advantage in that we play last.

"We will know by then if there is any chance and what equation we need.

"Hopefully we can take this form on.

"I thought we looked like we were getting to grips with the competition a bit more than Essex were on Saturday."

A 3,000 crowd took the total attendance for three games in four days at Hove close to five figures and Moores said: "The atmosphere was quite superb."

Robin Martin-Jenkins hit 56 out of 180 as Sussex recorded their best team and individual scores in the Twenty20 to date.

He said: "It was the best game so far and the fact that we've won a close one will give the guys a lot of confidence."

Jason Lewry conceded just eight runs off the decisive final over after Aftab Habib's assault on Martin-Jenkins had left Essex needing 15 to win.

The all-rounder joked: "Their two guys were new to the crease and I felt like I had played them in quite nicely but luckily Jason bowled a very good last over."

In National League division two, Sussex remain four points adrift at the bottom of the table following yesterday's action.

Nottingham Outlaws, one win ahead of Sussex on level points with Somerset, lost by one run to Middlesex at Trent Bridge.

Lancashire Lightning were slightly more convincing three-wicket winners against Durham at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Sussex could be set to face Shoaib Akhtar next month.

The Pakistan international has signed for Durham until the end of the season.

He will replace Dewald Pretorius, who has been called into the South Africa one-day squad.

That means he could be in action at Hove on July 22 when Durham visit in National League division two.

The 27-year-old, known as the Rawalpindi Express, has claimed 88 wickets in 25 Tests, averaging 27.18.

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