Chris Wright took a Twenty20 best four for 24 as last year's semi-finalists Essex won for the first time in this season's competition with a 17-run victory over Sussex at Hove.

Sussex seemed to be in control when they bowled out the Eagles for 148 in 19.4 overs and reached 75 for 3 in the 11th over of their reply.

But they never recovered after Dwayne Smith fell lbw to Graham Napier for 30 off 23 balls, which included two sixes and two fours.

Sussex did not score another boundary off the bat after that and their last hope effectively went when Ed Joyce, whose 29 off 34 balls did not contain a four, was taken at short mid-wicket off the final ball of the 18th over.

Man of the match Wright, who had earlier dismissed Chris Nash for 19, returned to mop up the tail as Sussex were dismissed for 131 off the first ball of the final over, the last five wickets falling for 15 runs.

Sussex seemed to have laid the platform for their second win in three games with a superb bowling and fielding display.

Five batsmen were run out - a record for Twenty20 in England - including top scorer Ravi Bopara and the dangerous Napier, who had plundered a record 152 not out when the sides last met a year ago.

Bopara was just starting to accelerate when he took on Smith's arm as he came back for a second and was beaten by the West Indian's direct hit from 50 yards.

Napier was run out for just four when Joe Gatting swooped at cover and wicketkeeper Ben Brown produced a brilliant take to beat his despairing dive.

Earlier, Alistair Cook had gone for just four when he pulled a short ball from Luke Wright to mid-wicket and Mark Pettini was cleaned up by Yasir Arafat after hitting six fours in his 25-ball 31.

Bopara and Matt Walker steadied things with a stand of 27 in four overs for the third wicket but Sussex seemed to take a grip on proceedings with three wickets in two overs halfway through the innings.

Walker, turning for a second, was beaten by Nash's throw from deep mid-wicket and in the 12th over Grant Flower was lbw to Mike Yardy. James Foster was run out two balls later after Bopara changed his mind about a quick single.

Bopara's 45 came off 31 balls with three fours and two sixes but after his departure Essex needed Ryan Ten Doeschate to hold things together.

The Dutchman made a valuable 28 off 24 balls before holing out to long on in the final over.