Delray Rawlins has taken his maiden half-century in English county cricket all in his stride.

The Sussex all-rounder struck 55 in his team’s first innings in their four-day Specsavers County Championship season finale against promotion-chasing Nottinghamshire which concludes today at Hove.

“Really nice to get the opportunity to play again this year and wanted to try and make it count,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette.

The left-handed batsman was dropped on nought but recovered to reach his fifty off 115 balls.

“He had a little bit of luck but he hung in there and once again he showed a lot of character to get through and get himself a good score,” Mark Davis, the Sussex coach, told the club’s website.

Rawlins shared in a 124-run sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Burgess that put the home side back in contention after being reduced to 107 for five.

“Nice to have the partnership,” Rawlins said. “He [Burgess] probably made it easier for me to settle and try and look to push on and score.

“Once I got through a little tough period I felt comfortable and the both of us just said, ‘Wait until we get something loose and look to cash in’ and the hard work that we did early paid off.”

Davis added: “I think it was a very good fightback being stuck in on a wicket like that in sort of overcast conditions.

“Pretty challenging batting conditions and I thought we did really well.

“To get ourselves back into the game was really impressive with the two young lads, so very happy that they have done that.”

Rawlins is making his first appearance for Sussex’s first team since June and has been dropped down the order to No 6.

“He opened the batting and batted in the top three so pretty tough for a young lad to come in and get exposed at that level at the top of the order,” Davis said. “So batting him at six is more like his position certainly starting off in his career.”

Sussex were dismissed for 565, the club’s biggest total at Hove in a decade and their highest at the venue against Nottinghamshire.

England all-rounder Chris Jordan led the run feast with a career-best 147, Burgess added 146, his maiden first-class hundred, and Barbados and former West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Jofra Archer a dashing 72.

However, the home side’s hopes of ending the season on a winning note now appear slim as Nottinghamshire replied with 477 after being reduced to 67 for five.

Sussex, who have a 88-run lead, were unable to start their second innings after tea yesterday because of bad light.