Delray Rawlins, the Sussex all-rounder, says he is encouraged by back-to-back promising knocks in his team’s home defeat by Lancashire in the LV= Insurance County Championship group three match at the weekend.

Batting at No 6, the 23-year-old stroked a breezy 42 from 64 balls in 55 minutes, which included four fours and two sixes batting at No 6, and dominated a 62-run fifth-wicket partnership with captain Ben Brown in the first innings.

He then followed that up with a team-high 45 from 78 balls in 119 minutes, that included four boundaries, in the second innings before Lancashire completed a five-wicket win over their hosts shortly after lunch on the fourth and final day’s play at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove on Sunday.

“I’ve been hitting the ball well, just been a bit unlucky,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette. “But I feel like some good is around the corner.”

Rawlins’s previous best knock prior to last weekend was the 18 he stroked in Sussex’s championship season opener against Lancashire that ended in a draw after snow brought proceedings to an early halt on the fourth and final day’s play at Emirates Old Trafford.

Although his primary role in the team is as a batsman, Rawlins has enjoyed some success with the ball.

He opened his season wicket account after claiming two for 12 from six overs with his slow left-arm in his team’s 48-run defeat at home to Yorkshire, also in the championship.

“Bowling nicely but [off spinner Jack] Carson is bowling really well,” Rawlins added. “When I come on, I just try to do a job for the team.”

Sussex are on a two-game losing streak having suffered back-to-back defeats against Yorkshire and Lancashire after recording a comfortable eight-wicket win over Glamorgan that gave new coach Ian Salisbury, the former Sussex and England leg spinner, his first win at the helm.

“Boys are playing well,” Rawlins said. “We are finding ourselves in winning positions, however not closing out games. But we are doing the right things.”

Rawlins and his team-mates will now attempt to stop the rot in their next match away to Northamptonshire at the County Ground Northampton, starting on Thursday.

“Positive feelings going into the next game,” Rawlins added. “Hopefully we can get a positive result.”

Sussex have been without the services of England fast bowler Jofra Archer in their attack so far this campaign.

He suffered a cut to his hand while cleaning at his home in January shortly before flying to India to prepare for the Test series which required surgery in March.

The Barbadian-born player resumed light training with Sussex last month with the England and Wales Cricket Board to provide an update on his elbow injury once he returns to bowling.

“Nice to see him back as we are really close,” Rawlins said. “Hopefully he can be in a Sussex shirt soon, too.”