SUSSEX maintained the pressure on Group A leaders Somerset with an entertaining Clydesdale Bank 40 win over Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford last night.

The Sharks won their second consecutive match as they chased down 245 with four wickets and four balls to spare.

Lancashire’s chances of reaching the semi-finals are all but over after losing five of their eight matches.

With Andrew Flintoff in the home dressing room, the hosts were indebted to 69 off 73 balls from captain Paul Horton – including five fours – and a late 36 not out off 30 balls from Kyle Hogg as they posted a competitive 244 for seven.

James Kirtley took three for 35 from seven overs for the visitors while Mike Yardy, Monty Panesar and Ollie Rayner also struck.

Joe Gatting hit a season’s best 71 off 82 balls for Sussex in reply but it took a fifth wicket partnership of 44 between Yardy and Andrew Hodd to take their side to the brink.

Yardy, who finished 46 not out off 50 balls, hit the winning runs off Sajid Mahmood in the final over.

Gareth Cross and Horton shared Lancashire’s highest partnership, 40 for the fourth wicket, but they lost wickets at regular intervals on a placid track.

Sussex openers Ed Joyce and Chris Nash got the chase off to a flyer as they took advantage of some wayward action from Daren Powell with the new ball.

The West Indian went for 10 off his first two balls, Nash doing the damage, and his first two overs went for 23.

Nash, however, fell in the third over when he holed out to Karl Brown at deep square leg off Hogg.

When Gatting was trapped lbw by Gary Keedy, Sussex were 174 for four in the 30th and needed 70 off the last 10 overs.

Smith took two late wickets to keep Lancs interested, including Hodd for 30 off 27 balls, but Yardy’s three fours and a six were vital.