For the second time in 24 hours Sussex came up with a perfectly-paced run chase to ensure that their C&G Trophy campaign has got off to the best possible start.

The county lost Matt Prior and Chris Adams within nine overs of their pursuit of Middlesex's 200-6 but once Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie had got the measure of a typically slow Hove pitch the outcome was never in doubt They put on a decisive 144 in 27 overs before Goodwin saw Sussex home, finishing unbeaten on 88 to add to his 89 on Sunday.

He hit seven boundaries - the same number that Middlesex mustered between them - as they won with two balls to spare. It was close but the reality is that they were always in charge.

Montgomerie had only lodged a single after nine overs but soon found his range and one of his four boundaries, hit inside out on the up through extra cover off Jamie Dalrymple, was even applauded by his partner.

Sussex briefly wobbled when Montgomerie and Mike Yardy miscued to mid-off in successive Dalrymple overs and, well though Middlesex bowled at the end, Goodwin had sized up the situation with Bevanesque certainty. Back-to-back wins are exactly what Sussex needed because the C&G's new league format offers little margin for error. The consensus is that seven victories might be needed to reach the Lord's final in August which means there are going to be a few meaningless games for sides who fall behind the eight-ball.

If Sussex can produce this form in their next two games at Glamorgan and Essex they might even start fancying their chances of a first visit to headquarters since 1993.

Adams inserted Middlesex, figuring that conditions might suit his attack after overnight rain had delayed the start until 12.30pm and reduced the contest to 40 overs per side.

He was proved correct.

Although a sluggish pitch was never conducive to bold strokeplay, by the time Sussex began their reply the outfield had dried out and batsmen at least got full value for their shots.

Middlesex were indebted to a gem of an innings from Owais Shah who has shown off his considerable talents to Hove crowds more than once over the years.

His 82, like Goodwin's innings made at run-a-ball pace, featured three sixes including two in one over to spoil Yardy's figures. The first was an astonishing pick-up over mid-wicket off Luke Wright which disappeared out of the ground and seemed to be executed with little back-lift and even less follow-through.

Twenty runs came off Yardy's last over and 53 from the last five as Shah accelerated before he holed out in the penultimate over to give Rana Naved his fourth wicket.

The Pakistani produced a mini-masterclass in the art of one-day bowling, mixing up his pace and length adroitly to finish with 4-34.

Ed Smith and Ed Joyce were both bemused by slower balls while something slightly quicker gave Chris Silverwood the hurry-up and he was caught off a towering top-edge.

James Kirtley, bowling competitively at Hove for the first time with his remodelled action, seemed to have found a bit more pace compared to his efforts at the Oval on Sunday.

In an eventful final over he picked up the wicket of Nick Compton before watching in mild amusement as Dalrymple carved the last ball over backward point for six.

Paul Weekes had given the innings ballast with 59 off 91 balls but he perished to a top-edged sweep off the next ball after adding 81 in 20 overs with Shah.