Sussex are out of the FP Trophy after suffering another Hove washout yesterday.

The game against Ireland was abandoned at 4pm after more heavy rain swept in when it looked as if the sides might play a ten-overs thrash.

It was the second washout Sussex have suffered at Hove in the competition after just 19.4 overs were possible against Glamorgan earlier this month.

The Sharks have three games left, starting against south conference leaders Kent on Sunday, but they can only get a maximum of ten points which is not going to be enough to reach the semi-finals.

Skipper Chris Adams said: "Looking back, losing by one wicket to Gloucestershire was probably the key.

"When you lose games you should win it dents your confidence.

We were always behind the eight-ball after that and it's been hard to catch up."

Adams confirmed that Mike Yardy would have played yesterday and, having declared himself fit after five weeks out with a broken finger, the lefthander is set to return for tomorrow's Championship game against Lancashire.

Adams added: "Yards has worked very hard.

"We class him as an experienced player now and when someone like that declares himself fit then that's good enough for me."