Nash and Joyce partnership shines as Sussex go top

The pair have already compiled four century stands in the LV County Championship this season and they put on 161 in 26 overs as the Sharks made light work of their target of 197 to make it three successive wins after they had lost their opening game to yesterday’s opponents a fortnight ago.

Their partnership was a new county record against Derbyshire in one-day matches, beating the 137 by Alan Wells and Martin Speight in 1990, and the fourth highest stand for any Sussex wicket in List A cricket.

Both scored freely against a toothless attack on a flat pitch and the only disappointment was that neither scored a century. Nash needed treatment after he was struck on the left hand by a bouncer from Jon Clare and was on 78 when he mistimed a drive to mid-off off slow left-armer Chesney Hughes.

Joyce fell to Hughes for 90, which included 11 fours, when he holed out to deep midwicket but debutant Lou Vincent hit the next ball for six and Sussex wrapped up victory with 9.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Derbyshire had collapsed badly after a fourth one-day half-century of the season from Wes Durston appeared to have put them on course for an imposing total.

Left-armer Chris Liddle picked up openers Usman Khawaja and Hughes in successive overs before Durston led the fightback by adding 48 in 11 overs with Greg Smith.

Naveed Arif was convinced he had run out Durston on five when he claimed to have deflected Smith’s straight drive onto the stumps and on 28 he survived another alarm when a pull dropped just short of the diving Nash at deep midwicket.

Smith, who was dropped by Vincent on 16, fell two balls later when he drove to midwicket but Durston and Wayne Madsen played well in a punishing stand of 91 from 98 balls for the fourth wicket.

The visitors took their batting powerplay in the 33rd over but then their innings started to unravel as five wickets fell for just six runs in 15 balls.

Sussex skipper Mike Yardy had Madsen caught off a mistimed slog sweep and in his next over Yardy struck with successive deliveries. Durston was deceived by a change of pace and bowled for 85 off 103 balls.

Garry Park and Azeem Rafiq halted the collapse but on a true pitch a target of 197 was never going to extend Sussex.