Sussex are off to a winning start in the double-header which they believe could define their Vitality Blast season.

Sharks were convincing 31-run winners over Kent at Hove last night.

They go to Hampshire this evening looking for what would be a sixth win in eight matches before the competition takes a break and Championship cricket resumes.

Sharks skipper Tymal Mills said: “This match, and the game against Hampshire on Friday, could define our season.

“If we beat Hampshire we’ve got a foot into the quarter-finals. But we’ve still got a way to go.”

Sussex posted 201-7 after taking just three runs from the first two overs.

Harrison Ward got going to blast 61 off 28 balls, including five sixes, and shared an opening stand of 81 off seven overs with Dan Hughes (26 off 16).

Danny Lamb added 40 off 23 later after the innings had appeared to be losing momentum.

In the first over of the reply, Ollie Robinson induced an inside edge from Zak Crawley which went for four, looked unfortunate not to have him lbw and then clean bowled the England batsman.

Kent only really looked like offering any threat when Daniel Bell-Drummond (37 off 34) and Sam Billings (51 off 35) shared a third-wicket stand worth 93 in 10.2 overs.

But skipper Mills returned to clean bowl Bell-Drummond and Billings was safely held on the boundary by Robinson off Lamb soon after.

Lamb took 3-37 and Robinson’s three overs, all delivered in the powerplay, included a maiden as he took 1-12.

Mills said: “Ollie Robinson has been a massive bonus for us in this competition.

“He’s been outstanding and was again tonight, even though he bowled only three overs in the powerplay.

“He’s been high-class every game because he’s a high-class and highly-skilled bowler.

“He moves the ball, he seams it, he swings it, he knows what lengths to hit and he’s not going for any runs in the power-play.”