Captain Neil Dexter

Middlesex Panthers’ hopes of t20 progress are already fading after they lost to Sussex Sharks by 11 runs at Lord’s – their second home defeat in three days.

The Panthers kept Sussex down to 143-8 from their 20 overs, but soon slid behind the required run-rate when they batted and fell short despite a heroic effort of 36 from skipper Neil Dexter.

The contest followed a similar pattern to the Panthers’ opening defeat by Surrey as Sussex opted to bat first and then lost early wickets.

England all-rounder Luke Wright (1) was caught behind slashing at Steven Crook’s first ball before Chris Nash heaved Toby Roland-Jones to mid-on, where Ollie Rayner put down the chance.

But the Sharks appeared to be in trouble at 26-3 when Matt Machan (9) spooned Crook to mid-off and Nash (9) then flicked Gareth Berg to deep square leg.

Jim Gatting was the fourth wicket to fall, bowled by Tom Smith for 11, but again Middlesex struggled to add the fifth as the experienced Murray Goodwin and Scott Styris began to work the ball around to good effect.

The pair added 56 and, although Malan spilled Styris at long-on, the Panthers recovered well in the closing overs, with Roland-Jones (2-19) bowling Goodwin for 43 as he moved across his stumps.

Styris got within two runs of a deserved half-century before steering a full toss from Roland-Jones straight to Berg in the covers – and Berg (3-17) then picked up two wickets at the death to restrict Sussex to 143-8.

Joe Denly (7) struggled to get to grips with the Sharks bowling and holed out in the fifth over when he skied to long-off, where Matt Machan took a steepling catch.

Paul Stirling (2) threw his wicket away, scooping Rusty Theron high into the hands of square leg, and the Panthers began to lag behind the required run-rate as Sussex’s spinners turned the screw.

Dawid Malan batted well for 38 from 35 balls but, once he was caught on the boundary off Will Beer, the Panthers’ prospects looked bleak at 58-3.

Dexter (36) and Berg (23) kept their side in contention with a brave stand of 53, but both fell to Chris Liddle, who also removed John Simpson (10) and Chris Rogers first ball to finish with 5-17 as Middlesex ran out of overs at 132-8.