Pietersen cameo keeps up Surrey hopes

Surrey 137 for 7 (Pietersen 39, Waller 2-24) beat Somerset 136 for 9 (Trego 30, Dunn 3-8) by three wickets
Scorecard

The scrimmage for the quarter-final berths in the ultra-competitive South Group is becoming increasingly fraught. Having coasted into a position of influence, Surrey's hopes of advancing had suffered a setback of late but Kevin Pietersen played his most significant hand to date with an assured cameo to ensure his side were on the right side of the fine margins this time around. They are now within touching distance of the knock-out stages.

If things had been different, Pietersen would have been across the other side of the capital resting up on the eve of a Test match. As it was, he - for the first time this season - showed why many regard the ECB's decision to discard him as risible. Two trademark cover drives had the crowd purring and Surrey motoring in pursuit of Somerset's 136 for 9.

But his dismissal, succumbing to spin on a surface conducive to slow, take-all-the-pace-off bowling for 39, opened a window of opportunity for the visitors. But, unlike Surrey's astute operators, Somerset weren't able to apply the stranglehold to induce a middle-order wobble.

Pietersen powerfully cut Max Waller to the boundary first ball of the tenth over but fell next delivery, attempting to replicate the stroke. When Robin Peterson haphazardly ran himself out in comical circumstances after a mix-up with Azhar Mahmood, a tense silence engulfed a sold-out Oval as another edgy finale loomed.

But, with the equation set at ten required off two overs, Somerset were up against it and a couple of lusty blows from Chris Tremlett was enough. Had Marcus Trescothick - playing as a makeshift wicketkeeper in the absence of Craig Kieswetter - been able to throw down middle stump or Colin Ingram manage to scamper around from long-on to snaffle Mahmood in the final overs, things may have finished differently - but such are the fine margins in the shortest format.

A two-wicket victory with a couple of deliveries to spare all but ends Somerset's hopes of finishing in the top four but ensures there is a realistic chance of another sell-out crowd at The Oval this season. True, there was no Jason Roy fireworks - he fell for just 4 in the first over - and a two-paced surface didn't allow flamboyant strokeplay but that suited the hosts.

Gary Wilson hardly had to affirm the inevitable when the coin landed in his favour but that alone doesn't guarantee his bowlers will execute the gameplan. Successive defeats hinted that their dependable strategy was unravelling.

Glamorgan's thrilling victory here five days ago apart, the team chasing at The Oval in the last ten domestic Twenty20 games had come away with the points and the hosts ensured Friday's blip in the trend was just that. True, they were aided by a surface fabricated to suit their strengths but isn't that what home advantage is about?

While it would be easy for Wilson to turn to his slower bowlers to roll their fingers over the ball on a two-paced surface for all 20 overs, he placed just as much faith in his battery of seamers. Matthew Dunn is another promising cab off the Surrey ranks and highlights that there is more to the club that meets the eye of many. An inspired spell of 3 for 8 proved decisive and enough for him to earn the plaudits.

Having being crashed to the fence first ball by Nick Compton, he stuck to his guns, bowling fast and full and was duly rewarded. Just as the visitors were beginning to motor, Compton played an atypically ugly heave to be caught at point. It was a needless shot as Somerset raced along at close to ten an over during the Powerplay.

To that point, he had crunched and punched four boundaries in quick succession as he took Tillakartne Dilshan for 13 in the first over; that was the last we saw of the Sri Lankan with the ball. But, Somerset were unable to attune themselves to the pitch and Surrey's astute methods. Their innings became stagnant fairly quickly after a brisk start.

By the time Dunn returned to bowl the penultimate over, the wheels had come off the innings. He The quashed any hopes of a late burst as James Hildreth was caught by Zafar Ansari and next delivery, he exhibited his unerringly accurate yorker - it was far too good for Tim Groenewald. Alas, the hat trick ball was safely negotiated by Waller. but Dunn had already inflicted the damage.

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England hit Jadeja with Level 2 charge

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has been charged with a Level 2 offence under the ICC Code of Conduct for his alleged role in the incident involving England fast bowler James Anderson on the second day of the Trent Bridge Test. The charge against Jadeja was brought by England team manager Phil Neale, in response to India charging Anderson with a Level 3 offence.

"It is alleged that after the players left the public area and entered the pavilion [for lunch], Jadeja turned suddenly and took steps towards Anderson in an aggressive and threatening manner," the ICC said. Anderson is alleged to have abused and pushed Jadeja.

All Level 2 breaches carry a fine of between 50-100% of the match fee and/or up to two suspension points and come under the match referee's purview. Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs.

Jadeja was reported under Article 2.2.11, which states: "Where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the above offences, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute."

Echoing the initial ECB response to India's reaction to the incident, England captain Alastair Cook expressed surprise that the exchange had generated such a serious response, describing it as "a big mountain out of a molehill." The India captain MS Dhoni, however, suggested there had been physical contact and appreciated how Jadeja had handled the incident by not losing his cool.

The Indian team's complaint against Anderson was brought to the ICC's notice on Friday, July 11, around 24 hours after the incident. Before formal charges were laid against Anderson, it is understood an ICC lawyer flew to England on Friday and spoke to both sides to see if the issue could be resolved. Anderson faces a ban of at least two Tests if he is found guilty as the minimum sanction for a Level 3 violation is four suspension points and two points equates to missing one Test.

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Dhoni implacable on Anderson

James Anderson has riled many opponents in an illustrious Test career, but when it came to his disagreement with Ravindra Jadeja, India's captain MS Dhoni saw a chance to make a stand

ECB to lodge Jadeja counter claim

It is usually the other way around. MS Dhoni likes to keep his India team in a bubble, he does not acknowledge the grandness of things because he believes such an approach keeps them from performing at their best. WACA, Wankhede; Test, Twenty20 - they are all the same, or at least he tries to keep it that way until the games begin.

Yet in the middle of his press conference a day before the second Test of this series, Dhoni reminded the journalists: "Let's talk about Lord's. We all know the importance of Lord's." What irony.

This is, of course, Lord's. This is, of course, an important Test match, the second of a series that refused to take off in the first because of a drab pitch. But there was a reason Dhoni wanted to talk about Lord's.

This also involves two players who could be banned by the time the third Test starts. James Anderson could miss two to four, Ravindra Jadeja could miss one. They might not miss any. They might someday play for the same IPL team. They might even get into exhibition bouts once they are retired. One thing that will not emerge, however, is a boastful spat with two different versions such as in the altercation between Ian Chappell and Ian Botham.

The sketchiness of the legal language as the information emerges is quite laughable yet this is a serious matter that has potential of becoming messy. This is the first time an international player has been charged with a level 3 offence since 2007-08 when Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds collided. There is no video evidence here, which could make this one team's word against the other.

No one is talking facts right now, but what we know is this. On day two of the Trent Bridge Test, walking back for lunch, between the playing field and changing rooms, Anderson allegedly pushed Jadeja who had allegedly turned around suddenly in an aggressive manner. There had been continuous sledging in the last over before lunch when Jadeja survived an lbw shout. The ICC will now go through its process of appointing a commissioner to rule on the matter.

	Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

The players and BCCI and ICC are giving out precious little, but what ESPNcricinfo has been able to establish is this. Dhoni initiated the process the next day, which was Friday. There was pressure from both respective boards, now part of the exclusive clique of three that runs international cricket, to resolve the issue without an official complaint, but Dhoni put his foot down.

An ICC lawyer travelled to England on Friday, but could not broker peace, and on Tuesday this charge became official. On Wednesday England responded with a level 2 charge against Jadeja. With video evidence lacking, India's witnesses have been Gautam Gambhir and R Ashwin. Both the sides are claiming off the record to have at least one clinching neutral witness on their side.

Alastair Cook told BBC he will be surprised if Anderson is banned, an India squad member said off the record that Anderson toh ghus gaya. In essence: he is a goner.

What we are getting from the two teams is inferences. Cook is saying this is India's way of eliminating England's best bowler, also the Man of the Match at Trent Bridge. There might be merit to this, what with India being the most powerful board and with Duncan Fletcher, who does not mind a bit of gamesmanship, as their coach. After all, aren't they trying to get the ODI playing conditions changed just before the World Cup because the new ones are hampering their slower bowlers?

Then again Dhoni's India are not known to playing cricket in this confrontational manner. At Trent Bridge, three years ago, he called back Ian Bell, who was well and fairly run out. In an ODI in Brisbane in 2011-12, they retracted a mankading appeal against Lahiru Thirimanne, who continued to back up too far in the same match, and whose team-mates incidentally mankaded an England batsman earlier this English summer.

When Dhoni was told of this Cook allegation, it was the first time he became expressive in an otherwise cool and collected press conference. He suggested Jadeja was the victim here, not Anderson. He also spoke of how at times in the past his team-mates have been goaded into ill-advised actions by the opposition's sledging. India are indignant in an enough-is-enough way. Another member of their touring party said: "This is like being blamed for coming to police when your house has been burgled."

This is not as ugly as the last time a level 3 offence was registered - and that could be because nobody has seen this - but it has similarities. Back then Anil Kumble went to the Australian dressing room, but Ricky Ponting would not have any of it. It is England this time who are aggrieved that this has become a big official issue.

Just like the two protagonists of Sydney 2007-08, the two individuals involved here have a history of rubbing opponents the wrong way, although this should in no way establish anyone's guilt or innocence.

Anderson is known to be a gentle person off the field, which comes across in his press conferences, but moody and confrontational on it. For some reason he ends up riling the opposition more than, say, Stuart Broad, who is far from mealy-mouthed on the field too. It was Anderson whose "f****** elbow" Michael Clarke wanted broken.

In Modern Masters, an ESPNcricinfo series on the 14 best bowlers he has faced, Rahul Dravid also said Anderson, verbally, the nastiest. Anderson has also bowled more Test overs - 996 - over the last two years than anyone in the world has; Broad is next with 826. He might have been near the edge.

Jadeja, he who turned around suddenly, is ironically not known for turning - he turns only the odd ball in a spell. He is ridiculed for having scored three first-class triple-centuries on flat pitches in India; he is not much of a batsman as we have seen. Yet India have insisted on him, and his bowling has shown merit enough to become a Test spinner.

He has a fat IPL contract with Dhoni's team, and is managed by Dhoni's best friend and manager. Cricket players are a small world, they notice these things, and they are not known for liking Jadeja much. If Anderson is the habitual sledger, Jadeja is that annoying successful and rich man who not many believe should be.

There is one dissimilarity from Sydney, though. No one is going to threaten to take his bat and ball and go home. These two are part of the Big Three. The cricketing world is not big enough to be able to have just one friend. This will end much more amicably.

The only positive to have come out of this is that two boards have left the cricketing issue to the cricketers, and have not pulled any punches. There have been some efforts to keep this down, but eventually the bosses have trusted the judgement of Dhoni and Cook in a cricketing matter that has the potential of souring their financial ties. One can always hope.

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Australia call on uncapped Beams

Legspinner Kristen Beams will be hoping to make her one-day international debut after being named in Australia's squad to take on Pakistan next month. Australia are hosting Pakistan for four ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast from August 21, and 13-player squads for the two series have now been named.

Beams was the leading wicket-taker in last summer's Women's National Cricket League with 14 victims at 13.21 and also impressed the selectors during tour matches against England last season.

The only inclusion from outside the T20 squad from the group that took out the World T20 title in Bangladesh in April was seamer Megan Schutt to replace Holly Ferling, who is recovering from a back injury. Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney, who were in the World T20 squad, missed out on selection.

"This series against Pakistan will be a great challenge for our players and an opportunity to perform strongly in front of our home crowds which continue to support the development of the women's game," Julie Savage, the women's national selection panel chair, said.

"It is also the first series we have contested that will count towards qualification for the next ICC Women's World Cup. As the current title-holders, we are determined to ensure we qualify well for this event, so it is imperative our squad performs in this series and continues to play an exciting and entertaining style of cricket.

"In the one-day international area, it's exciting for Australian cricket to have a legspinner included in the squad. Kristen Beams performed extremely well at domestic level last season and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.

"Megan [Schutt] has been a consistent performer at domestic level for South Australia but hasn't been able to cement a spot in the starting XI for the Southern Stars so she will be itching for an opportunity and that pressure for positions is encouraging."

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Gurney's cover drive brings Read relief

Nottinghamshire 261 (Mullaney 82, Chapple 4-73, Smith 3-44) and 170 for 9 (Read 40*, Smith 3-38, Chapple 3-59) beat Lancashire 225 (Buttler 52, Adams 4-45) and 205 (Khawaja 53, Gurney 4-22, Fletcher 3-33) by one wicket
Scorecard

It was an astonishing afternoon when Lancashire found they had supporters in Leeds, a teatime when Nottinghamshire discovered temporary fans in Newcastle. Such are the transient fealties produced in the second half of the County Championship season when one team's result affects everyone else's fortunes.

When all was done, it was the Novocastrians who were celebrating on Tuesday evening after a tremendous cricket match had ended with Chris Read's team securing a nerve-shattering one-wicket victory which will live in everyone's memory utterly regardless of their loyalties.

Any relief on Tyneside or the banks of the Wear will be felt because Lancashire's defeat leaves the Old Trafford side 11 points adrift of seventh-placed Durham having played a game more. Yet the keenest joy will, of course, be felt in Nottinghamshire's cricketing heartlands like Caythorpe and Cuckney, for their county had completed a win which puts them 11 points clear of Somerset after 12 games and 16 ahead of Yorkshire, albeit that Andrew Gale's men have a game in hand.

Yet great matches also need great finishes and this contest filled that box with more ticks than one. Such matches also need a hero: this game provided many, but none more worthy of the laurels than the teak-tough Read. Needing 170 to win, Nottinghamshire were 119 for 7 when Luke Fletcher joined his skipper. The only time issue was whether the match would end on the third evening or not.

Coolly, the Nottinghamshire pair added 44 runs in 18 overs, Fletcher blocking capably and nudging singles where possible, Read batting with all the skill and nous Trent Bridge supporters know well and love greatly.

A three-wicket victory seemed very probable when Kabir Ali had Fletcher well-caught at third slip by Tom Smith. Enter Andre Adams, who can really only play in one uncomplicated way. A whacked four wide of mid-on and a skied two over Jos Buttler's head followed. Then Adams pulled his fifth ball from Ali to deep-backward square-leg, where Stephen Parry sprinted round and held a fine catch low down: 169 for 9. "When was the last tie in the Championship?" someone asked

That, though, was also the end of the over and the batsmen had crossed. Step forward Harry Gurney, who cover drove Chapple's first ball as stylishly as you like for a single. The Nottinghamshire players on the balcony of the Aigburth pavilion erupted in untrammelled joy. Who know what this win might mean in mellow September? Lancashire's players trooped off, although they may also have been contemplating the eventual results of defeat.

Read was unbeaten on 40, his runs accumulated over 117 minutes off 66 balls. "It was relief in the end," said the captain when queried as to his feelings after the game. "It should have been excitement needing only seven runs with three wickets still in the shed but in the end when Harry Gurney hit those runs I was flapping.

"Harry shouldn't have been on strike and I was not particularly happy with losing two wickets in that penultimate over. It was relief but that's the best shot I have ever seen Harry Gurney play. I'll remember that for the rest of my life."

In that respect, the Nottinghamshire skipper will be joined by the vast majority of the spectators at Liverpool, where Chapple's men have fought out so many tight finishes in recent years. Throughout the day, supporters had sat enthralled by the drama unfolding before them. Newspapers were cast aside, their crosswords barely started.

The second-hand bookstall resorted to a major sale at teatime but no one wanted to read about cricket when there was so much of it to watch. October will come soon enough. The ice-cream van did progressively less business despite the fine warm weather which had replaced Monday's tent-tugging winds. At the tensest moments a frenetic calm settled on the ground.

Yet perhaps we should not be surprised that a game between these two sides should have produced an extraordinary finish. Nottinghamshire secured their 2010 title in dramatic circumstances when they secured a bowling bonus point against Lancashire, and Chapple's men only lost April's opening match of the season at Trent Bridge by 45 runs after a noble run-chase. The teams have a history of producing toughly-contested matches and this result will have pleased nobody more than Steven Mullaney who has represented both counties.

The absorbing dénouement to this game had been set up by morning and early afternoon sessions in which Lancashire had extended their overnight 55 for 2 to 205 at the cost of their eight remaining wickets, Usman Khawaja making 53.

All but one of the wickets had been claimed by Gurney, who took 4 for 13 in 29 balls during a high-quality spell of left-arm seam bowling, and by the Brobdingnagian figure of Fletcher, who removed three batsmen in five balls immediately after lunch. A valuable last-wicket stand of 36 between Parry and Ali probably gave disproportionate encouragement to Chapple's attack but even the most imaginative and experienced cricket-watchers could not envisage the stomach-clutching tension to come.

Initially wickets were almost traded for runs in the visitors' second innings. Four of the top six batsmen reached double figures but no one made more than Riki Wessels. On a wicket which had always rewarded good cricket, Smith removed Mullaney, Michael Lumb and James Taylor to become Division One's leading wicket-taker. Nottinghamshire stumbled to 79 for 5 but had recovered to 116 for 6 when Wessels drove Hogg to Ashwell Prince at cover. The crowd tried to settle, wondering how things would turn out. They little knew.

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Madsen, Slater lead strong Derbyshire reply

Derbyshire 216 for 2 (Madsen 79*, Slater 70, Chanderpaul 50*) trail Gloucestershire 356 (Tavare 135, W Gidman 125, Taylor 5-58) by 140 runs
Scorecard

Skipper Wayne Madsen led from the front as Derbyshire hit back strongly on the second day against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Having bowled out their hosts for 356 from an overnight position of 304 for 6, the visitors replied with 216 for 2, Madsen ending the day unbeaten on 79, having faced 147 balls and hit nine fours.

Opener Ben Slater made 70, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dangerously poised on 50 not out, with his side trailing by only 140 at stumps.

Gloucestershire had earlier been indebted to Will Gidman for his second century in successive Championship games. Unbeaten on 88 overnight, the allrounder was last man out for 125, having faced 216 balls and hit 19 fours.

Tom Taylor finished with 5 for 58, his first five-wicket haul in Championship cricket. It will not be the last judging by some penetrating spells from the 19-year-old seamer, who hails from Stoke-on-Trent.

The home side's hopes of a fourth batting point hinged on scoring 46 runs from 14 overs at the start of the day. They were dealt an early blow when Adam Rouse was bowled by Tony Palladino shouldering arms without adding to his overnight score of 2.

Gidman suffered some anxious moments moving from 88 to three figures, none greater than the edge to third man off Palladino, which brought up his century off 178 balls, with 16 fours. It followed the 119 he scored against Hampshire at Southampton last week.

Taylor helped Palladino keep a tight rein on the scoring rate and was rewarded with the total on 319 when Tom Smith, on 2, edged to first slip where Madsen parried the ball for second slip Wes Durston to take the catch.

It was 329 for 9 when the impressive Taylor found the edge of namesake Jack Taylor's bat and this time Madsen took the catch himself. Liam Norwell then helped to add a useful 27 with Gidman, who was finally bowled by Mark Footitt to end the innings. Both teams collected three bonus points.

Derbyshire had to negotiate four overs before lunch, which saw them score eight runs. The total had progressed to 30 in the afternoon session when Gidman broke through with the ball, pinning Billy Godleman lbw for 11, having just switched to the College Lawn End.

Slater played positively to reach a half-century off 85 balls, with six fours, with Madsen settling in to add 81 for the second wicket. Their partnership was ended by Hamish Marshall's medium-pace as he had Slater caught behind by Rouse, standing up to the stumps, for 70.

It was 115 for 2 at tea and Gloucestershire should have claimed Chanderpaul's prized wicket soon after the break when Rouse failed to stump him on 14 as he advanced well down the pitch to left-arm spinner Smith.

Home supporters must have feared that the error would be costly. By stumps Chanderpaul and Madsen had put on 105 for the third wicket, with power to add on Wednesday morning.

Madsen reached a fluid half-century off 101 balls, with seven fours, and looked in prime form, despite a pitch that was offering occasional turn for Gloucestershire's two spinners. Chanderpaul played with increasing freedom and followed his partner to 50 off 103 deliveries, with five fours.

At the close Gidman said: "I've struck a bit of form with the bat and I'm feeling confident at the crease. It was difficult facing the second new ball, but other than that I went in at a good time on a decent pitch.

"We're disappointed with how we have bowled this afternoon because the new ball was doing a bit and there were signs of turn. Now two dangerous players are well set."

Derbyshire's Slater, who is still waiting for his first Derbyshire hundred, said: "I thought today might be my day, but it wasn't to be. The pitch is not as good as the scores suggest. It's okay when you get in, but it's tricky getting in."

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Ballance enjoying the challenge of No. 3

Jonathan Trott was always going to be a tough man to replace at No. 3, but the early signs are that in Gary Ballance England have someone with the all-round game to take hold of the position.

Since assuming the role in the first Test against Sri Lanka he has made 23, 104 not out, 74, 0 and 71 - his hundred, in his previous outing at Lord's, was England's first from No. 3 since Trott made 121 against New Zealand, at Wellington, in March 2013.

The elevation up the order to a position Ballance had barely occupied in his professional career - and which had also been filled by Joe Root and Ian Bell after Trott left Australia - has meant the attacking batting he has come renowned for on the domestic circuit has largely been locked away, although he hinted at his potential when he charged towards three figures last month and reached the landmark with a six.

However, he is more than happy to take on a more cautious role and has provided a stabilising effect on the top order to help counter, somewhat, the poor form of Alastair Cook. The latest he has come to the crease so far this season is in the 19th over.

"I am happy to play the patience game, to bat for time and bat for as long as possible," he said. "It would have been nice to have kicked on in those last few games but that's how it goes and hopefully I can build on that. If you bowl straight or with tight lines then it is hard to score so you've got to be patient."

After a hostile debut against Mitchell Johnson in Sydney, Ballance is now starting to feel at home at international level. "I think so, I feel like I have brought some good form in to it, like I said, a few decent scores, it would be nice to kick on and get a really big score and a match-winning one to try to get us a win for England and get us going for the summer."

While batting remains the reason Ballance has been selected he showed unexpected promise with the lesser known skill of legspin, albeit during a light-hearted finish to the Trent Bridge Test when he sent down the penultimate over of the match. He had previously bowled 24 wicketless overs in first-class cricket but he may now put in some extra work in the nets.

"To be honest I was quite nervous before I bowled, I wasn't really expecting it," he said. "I was just glad the first one landed and then after that I had a little bit of confidence and I bowled six balls, probably a bit slow, but I might get a few more overs in the nets and we'll see where we go from there.

"It is quite tough as a part time wrist spinner, it is difficult and although I bowled a lot in the nets a Yorkshire I never had the chance to bowl in a game.

"Every captain does want that that extra option and maybe as a wrist spinner there might be an opportunity on a flat wicket where the game is going nowhere. Maybe I need to work on it a bit harder, but at the moment it is about concentrating on the batting and getting big scores."

Anyone who is able to offer Cook another viable option to give his quick bowlers a break should be encouraged to take his chance seriously.

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Wright and Beer earn grand home finish

Sussex 153 for 5 (Wright 66) beat Glamorgan 151 for 8 (Rudolph 62, Beer 3-14) by five wickets
Scorecard

Highlights: Wright's 66 helps Sussex topple Glamorgan by five wickets

Luke Wright hit three sixes and seven fours as his swashbuckling 66 off 39 balls dented Glamorgan's NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final hopes and powered Sussex to a five-wicket win at Hove.

Wright virtually settled the match, as Sussex chased down Glamorgan's 151 for 8, by clubbing Jacques Rudolph's legspin for three fours and a six in a 13th over that cost 19 runs.

Hethen fell to the first ball of the next over, with Dean Cosker taking a juggling catch at midwicket from a pull against Andrew Salter's offspin, but only another 36 runs were then required from 41 balls as Wright walked off to great acclaim from a near-5,000 crowd.

Matt Machan, with 33 not out from 35 balls, then eased Sussex home with nine balls to spare as they ended on 153 for 5. Sussex's fifth win of the group stage still keeps their mathematical chances of last eight qualification intact, while Glamorgan may live to regret their fourth defeat as they battle to get out of the fiercely-contested South Group.

Glamorgan, who would have gone second in the group table if they had won, were also undone by Will Beer's legspin as his brilliant four-over spell of 3 for 14 pegged them back when they looked to be on course for a challenging total.

Having won the toss, Glamorgan were given a superb start by Rudolph and skipper Jim Allenby, on form the best opening pair in the T20 Blast this season.

At the end of the six-over Powerplay Glamorgan were 57 without loss, with Rudolph setting the tone by taking three fours from the opening over, bowled by left-arm seamer Lewis Hatchett. Rudolph caressed the first ball of the match to the extra cover boundary for four, and there were also classy boundaries through square cover and midwicket as 16 runs in all came from the over.

The third over, from Chris Liddle, cost 12 more before Allenby pulled the returning Hatchett out of the ground over mid-wicket for six - the ball clattering into the brickwork of one of the block of flats that line one side of the Hove ground.

Beer's introduction, however, slowed Glamorgan's progress and his first victim, in the seventh over, was Allenby. Bowled for 24, inside-edging an attempted slog-sweep, he has now scored 474 runs from 10 innings in this year's T20 competition at an average of 52.66.

Mark Wallace was Beer's next scalp, bowled for 3 as he missed an ambitious reverse sweep, and the 25-year-old leg spinner then tossed one up a little bit higher to have Stewart Walters smartly caught and bowled for a duck when the batsman could not keep down a straight drive.

It was not long before big-hitting Chris Cooke was also back in the pavilion, holing out to Craig Cachopa at deep square leg as he mishit a pull at Steffan Piolet's medium pace.

At 79 for 4, in the 11th over, Glamorgan's innings was in danger of spluttering out, but after Beer's excellent spell a fifth wicket stand of 50 between Rudolph and Murray Goodwin revived it.

Goodwin, in his 41st year and playing against the county he left in 2012 after 12 seasons, was given a good reception by the crowd and reached 35 from 24 balls as he pulled a Piolet full toss for six and also plundered successive fours from Chris Nash's offspin.

After Goodwin fell to the last ball of the 17th over, miscueing to long on, Rudolph was bowled by Steve Magoffin for 62 off a thin inside edge in the following over.

Magoffin was making his T20 debut for Sussex in his third season with the club and it was only the ninth short-form game of his career. Indeed, the last time the country's current leading County Championship wicket-taker played a Twenty20 match was five-and-a-half years ago.

Sussex lost Nash and Luke Wells early but Cachopa, a 24-year-old trialist, hit a six and three fours to impress in a quickfire 24, before being stumped advancing at Cosker's left-arm spin,while Wright was always in command.

Nash, the Sussex captain, said: "It was nice to be able to win our last group home game. Our crowds have been brilliant all season for Twenty20, even though we haven't performed as well as we would have liked overall.

"I was also glad Will Beer was in at the end and hit the winning boundary. He has been exceptional with both ball and bat in this competition, and he deserved that moment of getting us over the line here.''

Glamorgan skipper Allenby added: "I always thought our total was on the low side. Around 160 would have been par, but Will Beer bowled exceptionally well to peg us back and full credit to him for that.

"We are still in contention to finish in the top four in the group, however, and I'm happy with that with two games still to go."

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SA sweat on de Villiers fitness

South Africa are sweating on the fitness of regular Test wicketkeeper AB de Villiers, who is suffering with a tight right hamstring and was unable to keep wicket during Monday's practice session. CSA said de Villiers is likely to play the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday though there are doubts over whether he will keep.

De Villiers' injury worry increases the chances of 21-year-old Quinton de Kock making a second Test appearance, five months after making his debut, and this time he may find himself behind the stumps as well.

It was during his century in Saturday's ODI in Hambantota that de Villiers first experienced discomfort in his hamstring. He spent an hour and 41 minutes at the crease and scored a blazing 108 off 71 balls to take South Africa to their highest-ever total against Sri Lanka and a first ODI series win on the island.

He did not take part in any wicket-keeping drills in Galle as a result. In a media release, CSA said he will "continue to receive treatment," and that he is "likely to be available for selection for Wednesday's match." However, de Villiers has previously suffered from back problems and the management may choose to err on the side of caution if they feel he is not fully fit.

Should de Villiers be forced out of the starting XI, de Kock would take his place behind the stumps but will probably bat in the lower-middle order. Although de Kock's Test selection appeared premature in the only Test he played - against Australia in March - the youngster has hit form in Sri Lanka after struggling through the first two ODIs and struck a century alongside de Villiers on Saturday.

If de Villiers misses out, it may also create room for a Test debut for Stiaan van Zyl - the Cobras' top-order batsman who is part of the squad but is thought to be competing with de Kock for the No. 6 spot. Dean Elgar remains set to open with Alviro Petersen.

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Philander targets new-ball damage

South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander believes the key to succeeding in Sri Lankan conditions lies in picking up wickets while the ball is still new. Philander, on his first Test tour of Sri Lanka, feels that seam bowlers can fetch wickets in spin-friendly surfaces by maintaining a simple off-stump line and making the batsmen play.

"The more damage you can do with the new ball the better," Philander said on Monday in Galle two days before the first Test. "You want batsmen five, six and seven batting against a newish nut. In these conditions you want to be striking with the new ball, our lines upfront need to get the batsmen to play.

"I wouldn't really say that lengths change, its more the line of attack. You need to sit on that off-stump line, and make sure you get the lbw into the game, the wider ball becomes the nick-off. Hopefully we can adjust really quickly and assess conditions accordingly."

Philander said he had recovered from the viral infection that ruled him out of the third ODI in Hambantota on Saturday. If he makes the starting XI, it will be his first Test in the subcontinent. Since his Test debut in 2011, Philander has played the majority of his 23 Tests at home in South Africa and toured England, Australia and New Zealand. He played two Tests in the UAE last year - his first Test series in Asia - where he picked up six wickets in two games.

Spinners have performed well in Galle but Philander was hopeful of getting some swing, given the occasional showers.

"There is a bit of moisture and overhead conditions around which will favour the swing bowlers," he said. "We have to wait and see what the deck looks like tomorrow and on the morning of the Test."

Philander was also confident his team would be able to negate the threat of Sri Lanka's lead spinner Rangana Herath, who has 48 wickets at this ground, the second-highest behind Muttiah Muralitharan (111).

"Spin is always a factor when you come to the subcontinent. That's why they prepare wickets to suit their bowlers," Philander said. "He (Herath) is going to be a big threat, but our batsmen played him quite well in the last one-dayer in Hambantota, so hopefully we can continue to do so. I'd like to see our guys stepping up against the spinners and playing them to the best of their abilities."

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