Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women found themselves on the wrong side of a final-over thriller as Sussex won by six wickets at The County Ground in Hove.
The result puts a dent in the Steelbacks qualification hopes, however dependent on results elsewhere, it could mean a win in their final group game on Sunday could be enough to secure a Finals Day spot.
At a sun-drenched Hove, Gemma Marriott called right and decided to have a bat first.
Similarly to the Kent game, the Steelbacks stuttered with the bat, as Marriott and May Drinkell both fell in the powerplay.
Ava Clive looked positive at the crease and started the rebuild, alongside Amelia Kemp. The pair navigated their side to 36/2 at the end of the powerplay.
The momentum was halted as Kemp was stumped in the 8th over for 13, as she was looking to advance down the track.
Shortly after the halfway mark, Sussex wicketkeeper Mollie Adams claimed her third stumping as Ava Clive departed for a well-made 35. Her innings included five 4s.
Partnerships seemed hard to come by as Alicia Presland was bowled by Clarke and at 70/5 with less than eight overs left, the Steelbacks had work to do.
Looking to accelerate, Chloe Hill hit a high full toss to Green who brilliantly caught the ball one handed, and with just over five overs to go, the Steelbacks desperately needed a partnership.
A partnership was exactly what the Steelbacks got as Lenny Sims and Clara Thaker put on 51 from 31 for the 8th wicket. Sims was the aggressor, striking 41 from 27 before being caught on the last ball.
It was a crucial knock that pushed the Steelbacks to 132/8 at the end of their 20 overs.
Needing to bowl well, the Steelbacks made the ideal start as Bethan Robinson removed the dangerous Mollie Adams in the fifth over for 18.
At the end of the powerplay the hosts were 34/1 but the hosts started to rebuild as Collis and Patil shared a 43-run partnership. The latter was brilliantly caught by Chloe Hill behind the stumps shortly after the halfway mark but Collis continued to push.
She was dismissed late on as she attempted to scoop Marriott away, but could only find Bethan Robinson at short fine leg.
19 were required off the final two overs, a big effort was needed to give the
The penultimate over saw Sussex hit two boundaries and take 12 off it, leaving seven needed from six deliveries.
Captain Gemma Marriott was unable to hold her nerve, bowling three wides which led to Sussex winning with three balls to spare.
Attention now turns to a Steelbacks double header at the cinch County Ground on Sunday, with the women playing first at 11:30am, followed by the men at 3:30pm.