Director of cricket Peter Moores today warned his batsmen that their places are under threat if they continue to underperform in one-day cricket.

Last night's four-wicket defeat by Surrey at Imber Court was their seventh in nine limited overs matches this season and, after two defeats, means they are unlikely to make any progress in the new Twenty20 Cup.

Sussex made 143-8 from their 20 overs but Surrey cruised to victory with 11 balls to spare.

Moores said: "Batting in the top five in one-day cricket is a privileged position, but at the moment our guys are just not performing and sooner or later we will have to change it if things don't get better.

"I think we have improved in terms of bowling and fielding in the last four one-day games, but if you are not posting scores or building partnerships you are always going to struggle whether it is 20 overs or 45 in the National League.

"We made a good start last night and 160 would have made a good game of it. Credit to the bowlers because they were worried at one stage, but the total we made never really looked like being enough."

With Surrey unbeaten after three games and top of the south group, the remainder of Sussex's Twenty20 campaign is in danger of becoming an anti-climax.

"If Surrey win all five there is a possibility of sneaking into second as best runner-up, but we felt beforehand that you would have to win four games," added Moores.

Sussex face Middlesex at Hove under lights tomorrow (7.30pm) and will select their squad today.

But their options are limited because of injury to Tony Cottey and Billy Taylor and James Kirtley's involvement with the England one-day squad.

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