Cricket: Sussex in complete command

SUSSEX SHARKS moved to the top of the National League Division Two last night with a commanding nine-wicket win over Surrey Lions under The Oval floodlights.

The opener Richard Montgomerie finished with a league best 80 not out as Sussex achieved their target of 218 with 13 balls to spare. Montgomerie and the Australian left-hander Michael Di Venuto shared an opening stand of 155 in 29 overs before the captain Chris Adams, one of England's tour party for South Africa, hit an unbeaten 42.

Surrey's attack, shorn of Martin Bicknell, Alex Tudor, Ian Salisbury and Saqlain Mushtaq, was dispatched to all parts of The Oval by the Sussex batsmen. Di Venuto's 50 came off 53 balls and included seven fours before he was run out on 78. At the other end Montgomerie was the perfect foil reaching his own 50 off 71 balls.

Earlier Surrey, after a promising start, capitulated from 175 for 3 to 217 all out.

At Cardiff a sparkling 104 not out by Jacques Kallis guided Glamorgan Dragons to a 13-run victory over the Division Two leaders Somerset Sabres which enabled Sussex to regain first place. Kallis received admirable support from his captain Matthew Maynard, who recorded a half-century.

Somerset needed 229 to win, but were bowled out for 215 in the final over, despite an elegant 75 off 102 balls by their opener Jamie Cox.