Left-hander Daniel Hughes became the highest scorer of the Vitality Blast in his debut season as Australians struck top form on a dramatic final night of the group phase.
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Sussex secured a home quarter-final after thrashing Middlesex by nine wickets in front of a sell-out crowd at Hove.
They leapfrogged Somerset, who lost heavily to Glamorgan in Cardiff, and returned into second place after securing a ninth win in the South Group.
Middlesex's 9-159 never looked like being enough and conditions were put into perspective by Sussex openers Australian Daniel Hughes and Harison Ward, who put on 141 in 15.1 overs.
Hughes is now the top scorer in his first season in the Blast after taking his aggregate to 560 runs with an unbeaten 96, while Ward eased to his third half-century in this season's competition.
The Sydney Sixes star faced just 54 balls for his 96, hitting 12 fours and three sixes - the third to win the game with 22 deliveries to spare as he equalled his T20 career-best with his fourth fifty.
At Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan ended their Vitality Blast campaign in record-breaking fashion as Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne starred with the ball.
The Queenslander's 15-ball spell returned figures of 5-11 - including a triple-wicket maiden - that led to Somerset losing seven wickets for just 35 runs.
Glamorgan made 4-243 thanks to skipper Kiran Carlson's hard-hitting 135 off 64 balls, before Labuschagne helped skittle the visitors for 123.
Their win was in vain though as they finished sixth in the South Group while Somerset qualified for the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Ben McDermott has helped Hampshire knock Essex out of the competition.
The Eagles, losing finalists in 2023, only needed a point at Utilita Bowl to overtake Gloucestershire into fourth but went down by seven runs as they made 7-174.
McDermott's exquisite 64 helped Hampshire to a solid 5-181, with the Australian blending a mix of brutal and inventive hitting in a 39-ball fifty - his 10th across three seasons for the county.
At Old Trafford, Ashton Agar hit a six with eight balls remaining to secure a home quarter-final for Northamptonshire who posted a four-wicket win over Lancashire.
Replying to the hosts 9-201, Agar's six off Liam Livingstone settled matters as the Perth allrounder ensured his team reached 6-203.
Australian Associated Press
