Sussex lost top place in the Pro40 League to Somerset at Taunton last night as the Sabres gained revenge for Saturday’s Twenty20 Cup final defeat.

Chasing 239 to win the Sharks slipped to 61-4 as left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah opened the bowling and removed openers Rory Hamilton-Brown and Luke Wright cheaply.

Ben Phillips removed dangermen Murray Goodwin and Michael Yardy with successive balls and the Sharks could manage only 189, despite a superb 94 from Ed Joyce. The next highest score was 19 as Sussex were bowled out for 189 with 20 balls of their innings unused.

Joyce was last out when he was caught at long on. having faced 108 balls and hit seven fours. But no one could give him the necessary support as the holders lost for the first time in this season’s Pro40.

Earlier, South African Zander de Bruyn hit 73 while James Hildreth and Craig Kieswetter both contributed 45 in Somerset’s 238-5.

They move a point clear of Sussex who have a game in hand.

The sides meet again tomorrow when they start a Championship match at Taunton (11am).