Bevan had the hands of a puppeteer and Greenfield was sturdy and steady. Essex changed their bowling around and fielded athletically but couldn't contain this contrasting pair.

Sussex had thrown the gauntlet. Still, it was an amiable pitch and although Essex's reply began with the immediate and damaging loss of Stuart Law, soon they were moving along confidently as Darren Robinson and Nasser Hussain punished some erratic bowling. Robinson batted with economic power and his captain revealed his customary mixture of challenge and creativity.

Earlier Hussain had managed to look like a captain and he did not hide his opinions as his senior spinner forgot to cover the stumps with a run-out beckoning.

Bevan began with a sumptuous drive through cover and was soon collecting in his fertile way, confirming his reputation as a formidable player in this sort of cricket. He scores off almost every ball, in which regard only Ajay Jadeja and Jonty Rhodes are his match. Certainly he is in his element at Hove. Greenfield began cautiously but finished by sweeping over fine leg whereupon he drove the last ball of the innings into the Arthur Gilligan stand behind the sightscreen. Both men scored at more than a run a ball and Bevan needed only 71 deliveries for his 87.

It was a combination promising better days ahead for a county who have lost 17 of their last 19 Sunday matches and have reached the quarter-final of this dying competition only once since 1986. Long-suffering supporters enjoyed their work. Indeed, they seem happy enough. At a surgery before play the complaints were about seating and a noisy generator.

Reaching a satisfactory score had seemed beyond Sussex as the innings began under forlorn cloud and upon a slow pitch. Neither Alex Edwards, a local product, nor Chris Adams could make much of visiting seamers keeping a tight length. Adams has much to commend him, not least naked ambition and a robust approach to batting. He seems strong enough to be chosen for England's 50-over team, to say the least.

Eventually Adams found his timing and contributed a couple of forthright drives but the promise was cut short as another belligerent stroke ended in third man's shivering clutches. Edwards did not long survive his captain as Paul Grayson's opening delivery crept under his bat.

Hereafter Bevan and Greenfield went to work, relying as much upon deft placements as forceful strokes. They left to loud ovations, reward for taking their team to a total calculated to extend the visitors from regions north-east of the metropolis. Law's loose stroke seemed to predict a victory sorely needed by the hosts but the second-wicket pair settled swiftly and scored easily enough to swing the balance in favour of their side.