Cricket: Kirtley burst is well timed

Nottinghamshire 275 and 122 Sussex 324 and 74-6 Sussex win by four wickets

JAMES KIRTLEY caught the eye of England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, with a match-winning performance in Sussex's four-wicket victory at Trent Bridge.

The 23-year-old pace bowler claimed career-best figures of 7 for 29 and a match return of 10 for 88 to set up the win, Sussex's second in the championship. Kirtley destroyed Notts's second innings, producing a burst of 6 for 3 in 39 deliveries as Notts crumbled to 23 for 7.

He was blissfully unaware of Graveney's presence until he had caused most of the damage. "I didn't realise he was watching until I was into my ninth over and I was too tired to worry about what I might do after that," said Sussex's hero.

"I suppose I can't have done my chances any harm but talk of England is a bit premature and my main concern at the moment is helping Sussex do well."

He added: "Jason Lewry deserves a lot of credit too, because he swung the ball and took three key wickets."

Nottinghamshire did limit the damage by recovering to 122 all out before making Sussex battle hard for their target.