beat Surrey Lions by 48 runs to go top of the National League. A low-scoring draw with Gloucestershire followed, which left both sides struggling in the relegation zone. August began with an 11-run win over Somerset Sabres in the National League, which gave them a four-point lead in that competition. Following that, Sussex enjoyed a five-wicket win over Surrey in the County Championship which saw them jump past Surrey in the table. A loss to Leicestershire Foxes in the National League followed, however, but they carried their good Championship form into the return match with Gloucestershire to win by 226 runs. However, they lost yet again in the National League, as the Division Two title battle with Durham tightened. The third week of August saw Sussex thump Middlesex inside two days, beating them by an innings and 232 runs – the highest margin of victory in the entire season – to temporarily go top of Division One, only 18 days after they had been precariously positioned in the relegation zone. However, the week ended with another loss to Leicestershire in the National League, which meant that Leicestershire also involved themselves in the title battle in Division Two. Three days later, Sussex beat Warwickshire in the same competition, mainly thanks to figures of 6–27 from Michael Yardy. In the County Championship, however, they lost to Warwickshire, before finishing August with two National League victories over Scotland and Surrey. September began with a two-day victory over Glamorgan, which kept their slim Championship title hopes alive, but those were well and truly killed by Nottinghamshire's victory over Kent. However, other teams lost in the National League to give them promotion in that competition, and their fourth National League win in a row – over Kent Spitfires at St Lawrence Ground – left them in control of the race for the Division Two title. Sussex finished the Championship season with an eight-wicket victory over Kent, leaving them third in the Championship, and a win over Yorkshire Phoenix gave them the National League Division Two title. Players Mushtaq Ahmed Rana Naved-ul-Hasan Tim Ambrose Mark Davis Murray Goodwin Sean Heather Carl Hopkinson James Kirtley Jason Lewry Robin Martin-Jenkins Richard Montgomerie Chris Nash Matt Prior Neil Turk Ian Ward Luke Wright Michael Yardy Tables Championship totesport League Match details Sussex v Loughborough UCCE (9–11 April) Match drawn The first day of this match, which was played at