Mike Yardy was the unlikely match-winner as Sussex went top of the totesport League last night with a four-wicket win over Kent.

The left-hander went into the match with a competition batting average of 6.57 but he improved that with 65 as the Sharks opened up a two-point lead at the top of the second division. They also have a game in hand on second-placed Durham.

Yardy said: "I needed that as my form in this competition has been abysmal. I knew I was a better player than what I've been averaging and it was nice to prove it."

Yardy came in with Sussex 22-4 in reply to Kent's 155 but he put on a match-winning stand of 103 with Carl Hopkinson (31) coming in at No. 5, two places down the batting order.

He added: "It made a nice change to come in at five in the Twenty20 instead of three, it's refreshed me a bit. We're playing good one-day cricket this season and it's nice to be top but we there is a long way to go."

Sussex return to Championship action for the first time in three weeks on Sunday when they face first division leaders Kent at Canterbury.

With Matt Prior on England duty, Tim Ambrose will keep wicket and bat at No. 6. Richard Montgomerie, Jason Lewry and Robin Martin-Jenkins all return, Rana Naved makes his Championship debut.

Sussex (probable): Ward, Montgomerie, Yardy, Goodwin, Adams, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Rana Naved, Mushtaq Ahmed, Kirtley, Lewry.