Yasir Arafat became only the third Sussex bowler to take a one-day league hat-trick as the Sharks regained top spot in the Pro40 first division with an easy nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire Gladiators at Horsham.

The 27-year-old finished off Gloucestershire's innings in the last over when he had Steve Adshead caught at mid-wicket before yorkers accounted for Ian Saxelby and Steve Kirby.

It capped an impressive bowling performance by Sussex, who restricted the visitors to 189 on a good pitch with a fast outfield.

They then cruised to their target in just 26.1 overs as Luke Wright and Ed Joyce put on 136 in 19 overs for the second wicket, with Wright contributing a blistering unbeaten 95.

James Kirtley had done the early damage at the top of the innings with three for 18 in an impressive six-over burst after Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman won the toss.

The former England seamer deceived Will Porterfield with a slower ball and had skipper Alex Gidman caught behind in his third over as he prodded outside off stump.

Kirtley then tumbled to his left to take a sharp return catch and end a stodgy innings by opener Kadeer Ali, who took 27 balls for just five runs.

Gloucestershire rallied thanks to their New Zealanders James Franklin and Hamish Marshall.

Marshall made 50 off 57 balls before he was caught behind off Sussex captain Mike Yardy to end a stand of 66 in 13 overs with Chris Taylor. Franklin made 36 before he was caught by Yardy at slip off Wright. Gloucestershire's last five wickets fell for 48 in seven overs and Sussex made short work of their target.

Rory Hamilton-Brown and Ed Joyce had 56 on the board in the seventh over and even when Hamilton-Brown was stumped by Adshead there was no loss of momentum.

Wright thrilled a crowd close to 4,000 by smashing his way to 50 off just 36 balls with all of his runs coming in boundaries thanks to 11 fours and a six.

Gidman had used seven bowlers by the 21st over but it failed to stem the Sussex onslaught.

In an impressive display of stroke-making, Wright's 95 came from just 62 balls with 18 fours and a six while Joyce contributed 66 from 77 deliveries as Sussex made it three successive wins in defence of their Pro40 title.