Gloucestershire Gladiators stayed on course for the Division Two title after wrapping up their seventh Norwich Union League win of the season against toothless Sussex Sharks at Cheltenham yesterday.

Rock-bottom Sussex showed why they have registered just two wins so far this season in the competition after being skittled for 116 inside 31 overs and going down in double quick time by six wickets.

Gloucestershire's Ian Harvey turned in a typical man-of-the-match display, bagging two crucial early wickets and then steering the Gladiators comfortably home in only the 17th over after racing to his half-century off 28 balls.

Australian all-rounder Harvey went on to club an undefeated 68 off 43 balls, striking 13 fours.

He had earlier returned figures of 2-25 off five overs.

Harvey put on 81 for the second wicket in tandem with Kiwi Craig Spearman, who made 24, and although skipper Mark Alleyne was run out for a duck the Gladiators hardly broke sweat.

The Sharks suffered a torrid start and even the in-form Tony Cottey he has carved out centuries in Sussex's last two County Championship matches failed to steady the ship, snaffled behind by Russell for five.

That left the Sharks on 55-5 and when Prior went for 18, caught at mid-off by Alex Gidman off Averis, the Sharks had slumped to 86-6.

Martin-Jenkins has also shown some recent form with the bat, but just as he had got himself in, taking Sussex onto 107, he padded up to off-spinner Ball and was given lbw.

Lewry (1) and Mark Robinson (0) made no impression other than to provide Russell with his fourth and fifth catches, both off Ball, while in between the same bowler sent Billy Taylor on his way, caught and bowled for a duck.