Schofield steers Lancashire to dramatic win

Sussex 169 Lancashire 171-6 Lancs win by four wickets

Lancashire survived a fright to earn the fifth victory of their Norwich Union Division Two campaign as Sussex were punished for a poor batting performance at Hove.

Set 170 to win after dominating the hosts with impressive bowling, Lancashire were made to fight after slipping from 101 for two to 105 for four before a knock of 36 from Chris Schofield helped the Red Rose county claim victory with the first ball of the final over.

The result leaves Sussex at the bottom of the table having claimed just two wins all season while Lancashire moved up to fourth.

Sussex elected to bat after winning the toss but their one-day difficulties were evident again as first their opener, Richard Montgomerie, and then their captain, Chris Adams, soon departed.

With Sussex on 77 for five Murray Goodwin just missed a deserved half-century when he was found the finest of edges as the ball carried through to wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes.

A spirited stand of 44 between Matt Prior and Kevin Innes, and another 45 by the tail, arrested the slide before Sussex were bowled out for 169.

The response, though, was immediate as the home side gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Robin Martin-Jenkins removed Alec Swann for a duck in the second over.

Lancashire's chase was far from clinical, although Mark Chilton moved swiftly on to 28 before he was given out leg before off Martin-Jenkins. That wicket brought the Australian Stuart Law to the crease and he and David Byas kept the score moving at a decent rate.

Sussex finally got the breakthrough they needed when Law dragged the ball on to his stumps, leaving Lancashire on 102 for three. Moments later, Byas was bowled for 35 and Glen Chapple followed for five.

However, a battling knock from Schofield lifted the dwindling run rate and though he was bowled by Billy Taylor, Wood and Haynes forced Lancashire past their target with four wickets in hand.