Chris Adams today backed his Sussex side to bounce back from their Twenty20 mauling by Essex and qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Sharks slumped to a 43-run defeat in yesterday's south division game at Chelmsford after they were bowled out for 108 in 18.1 overs.

Adams top scored with 44 but Sussex lost their last seven wickets for 35 in 40 balls. He believes the setback will act as a wake-up call for a side beaten just once before yesterday in one-day cricket.

He said: "If it makes one or two players realise that it's not just a case of turning up then the defeat might be a blessing in disguise.

"We were outgunned by an Essex side who were up for it from ball one, they outplayed us fair and square as we had done against them last week."

Sussex have two home games in three days this week against Surrey and Hampshire and with four sides separated by just a single point in the division they still fancy their chances of reaching the last eight for the first time.

"It's going to a very close group," said Adams. "It was always going to be impossible to win eight matches and even six is a tall order but I'd be amazed if five victories wasn't enough.

"That means we have to win four out of five but we can do that. Our one-day cricket in the last couple of months has been exceptional so perhaps we were due an off day."

Director of cricket Peter Moores added: "It's disappointing but we're not going to make a drama out of it.

"I thought their score was probably ten to 20 runs under par. It's a fast-scoring ground but our recognised batsmen were unable to give us the start we needed for once and their spinners bowled well. Grant Flower took three wickets but I thought James Middlebrook created pressure at the other end."

Essex now head the south division on four points with both Surrey and Hampshire.

Sussex will train under lights tomorrow ahead of the day-nighter against Surrey (7.40pm) on Wednesday which is likely to be sold out, although tickets were still available at the County Ground today.