Sussex all-rounder Delray Rawlins has thanked his T20 skipper Luke Wright for the advice on his batting.

The 23-year-old had been accused of going too hard at the ball and after taking Wright’s advice his fortunes have changed.

Rawlins scored 62 not out in the victory over Kent on Saturday, before following that up with 37 from 20 balls in the defeat to Essex on Monday.

The all-rounder revealed the part Wright has played in him reining it in with the bat.

He said: “It is difficult, but I have to trust in the ability to hit the gaps and still hit the ball for four.

“For me it is all about reading situations better, in the game against Kent here I was probably too far the other way trying to hit everything out the park. “You learn and it is nice to have players like Wrighty around, he has played all around the world for England and I have just been taking on his advice the last couple of games and it has been working a bit with the two scores I have got.”

It’s not just with the bat that Rawlins has been impressing, he has also been in good form with the ball.

Rawlins picked up career best figures of 2-18 against Essex at Hove and has been used as a second spinner to Wright when Will Beer does not make the squad.

Despite being pleased that he is getting the chance to bowl, Rawlins wishes Beer was involved as well.

He said:“I’ve been speaking to Wrighty throughout the competition and he has always told me to be ready, but it’s nice to get the opportunity.

“I’d like Beero (Beer) to play, he has done really well for us over the last few years and every time he plays, he does really well.

“It is nice to get a bowl and get a couple of wickets myself.”

Rawlins has gradually improved over the season and he says that is down to him being better prepared for games.

He said: “I feel my season has been progressing and developing quite nicely.

“It has been nice for myself to get a few good scores with the bat.

“I feel like I have been preparing very well and it is starting out in the middle. Four months off isn’t ideal, but to come back it was a bit tough for a few of us.

“However, it is nice to be progressing and be at the business end with potentially a quarter-finals coming up if we get there.”

Sussex will be hoping to bounce back from the defeat to Essex immediately, as they travel to the Oval to take on Surrey this evening (6:30pm) and Rawlins says it should be another cracker.

He said: “It will be exciting, Surrey are a decent team. They have got some big names in there and I’m quite confident that we can get one on them again.

“We had the wash-out here against them in the first game, but it will be nice to get a full game in and hopefully get a couple of points.”

The Sharks head coach Jason Gillespie is leaving the club at the end of the season, to take up a role with the South Australia Cricket Association and Rawlins spoke about what the Australian has done for his game personally.

He said: “He has given me a lot of confidence really, in any situation he backs you no matter what and who it is.

“He has brought a lot of confidence into this team, a lot of experienced players and you have definitely seen especially in the T20’s how we have progressed over the last three years since has been at the club.

“It has been nice to have him around and it will be sad to see him leave.

“I feel like he has left us in a very good place, especially in white-ball cricket.

“He has given a few of the young lads a run in red ball cricket, which is an experience for us going into next year.”