Sussex bowler James Kirtley produced his best one-day performance in front of England captain Nasser Hussain to reignite his prospects of an international recall.

Hussain watched from the boundary as Kirtley took 5-33 in the opening Benson and Hedges Cup group game against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday.

But Kirtley didn't even have the consolation of collecting the gold award after Essex captain Ronnie Irani took 5-36, including a spell of 4-12 in 15 balls, to wreck Sussex's middle order and help his side to a 20 run win under Duckworth/Lewis calculations.

Irani's England career is probably over, but Kirtley did his chances of a recall for the forthcoming triangular series against India and Sri Lanka no harm as he made it 14 wickets in three games since the start of the season.

He played four matches on the tour of Zimbabwe last October, but spent the rest of the winter re-modelling his bowling action after it was reported as being suspect.

Kirtley said: "It's hard not to think about playing for England again, it's always at the back of your mind.

"It's always nice to do well at Chelmsford. Nasser was here and I was really happy with the way I took my wickets. But two swallows don't make a summer and I've just got to keep working hard.

"I tend to get my wickets in clutches and when I'm bowling with a good rhythm. I was very conscious of trying to get a good start to the season and I seem to have hit the ground running."

Sussex seemed to be cruising to victory when they reached 103-1 chasing a target of 207. But the dismissal of skipper Chris Adams for 54 sparked a middle-order collapse which saw five wickets fall in 29 deliveries before the rain arrived.

Kirtley said: "We probably controlled 90 per cent of the game. I thought our bowling and fielding was excellent, but you have to give Ronnie Irani credit.

"It wasn't an easy pitch to bat on and the bit of drizzle we had when we batted freshened it up a bit. Ronnie bowled pretty well and thoroughly deserved the wickets.

"He's done it before and he loves the stage at Chelmsford."

Sussex play their next group game against Kent at Canterbury on Friday before hosting Hampshire at Hove on Sunday.

Meanwhile, new signing Paul Hutchison won't be considered for the remaining Benson and Hedges Cup games because he is suffering from shin splints.

The former Yorkshire left-armer, who joined Sussex at the end of last season, has been told to rest for a week. He should return on Wednesday week when the county play Bradford UCCE in a three-day friendly at Hastings.