Delray Rawlins says Sussex are hungry to return to winning ways when they host south group rivals Essex in the Bob Willis Trophy at the 1st Central County Ground starting from tomorrow.

Sussex suffered an innings and 25-run defeat in their previous outing against Kent at Canterbury, where the home side set multiple batting records along the way to victory with just over a day to spare.

The loss was Sussex’s first of the season having beaten Hampshire by 94 runs in their season opener on their home turf to start the campaign on the front foot.

“As a team, we obviously started well, but it was disappointing losing in that fashion last weekend,” Rawlins said. “But with the team we’ve got, everyone is hungry and we are looking to put it right this weekend.”

Kent piled up 530 for one declared, the fourth highest single-wicket score in global first-class cricket history, in reply to Sussex’s first-innings total of 332 all out after electing to bat.

Jordan Cox (238) and Jack Leaming (220) led the run feast as they both smashed unbeaten career-best double centuries in an unbroken club record first-class stand worth 423.

Teenager Cox’s batting exploits are also a club record for the highest individual innings against Sussex while he also became Kent’s highest maiden century-maker.

Cox’s and Leaming’s unbroken partnership is Kent’s highest first-class partnership record against any county for the second wicket as well as the county’s record for any wicket in matches against Sussex.

Rawlins scored 20 in the first innings and 19 in the second in ideal batting conditions at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, before Sussex were dismissed for 173 in 46.1 overs with six overs remaining on the penultimate day of the match.

The 22-year-old rejoined his Sussex team-mates last month having returned home because of the Covid-19 outbreak, which cut the county’s pre-season tour of South Africa short and delayed the English season, and is thrilled to be back out in the middle.

“It’s been a bit strange starting this late,” Rawlins said. “But nice to be back and out there with the boys.

“The transition [back to normal routine] hasn’t been too bad as we got a nice build-up into that first game.”

Rawlins and his team-mates warmed up for the truncated season hosting Hampshire in a two-day friendly at the 1st Central County Ground in late July, which ended in a draw.