Sussex have developed a pleasing habit of bouncing back quickly from defeats so far this season.

They will aim to do similar on Wednesday when much of the country has eyes on Germany.

The county have lost four times across the formats this season – three of them to Glamorgan.

The latest came on a pretty unsatisfactory night at the 1st Central County Ground on Friday when sporting attention was split between the complexities of DLS calculations at Hove and a penalty shoot-out in Hamburg.

Glamorgan eventually secured a T20 Vitality Blast win before near-empty stands after most spectators had given up on resumption of play as heavy rain swept across the ground midway through the Sussex reply to a visitors’ total which reached 235-6 and at one stage looked like being rather more.

By the time they were completing the job, many of the crowd were indoors watching on TV while Portuguese tears fell like Hove rain after France won on spot kicks at Euro 2024.

T20 is a volatile game and the way Sussex have recovered from two heavy defeats, at home to Surrey and away to Glamorgan, is a big reason why they are still second in the south group.

They also shrugged off a Championship defeat in Cardiff.

The chance to do likewise comes this Wednesday when Hampshire visit Hove (7pm).

Yes, Wednesday of all nights. Such derby contests are billed as El Classicoast and Sussex were impressive winners at the Utilita Bowl recently.

They will look to complete a double on the pitch and will have a few looks around the stands off it as they hope interest remains high, despite the counter attraction of the Three Lions taking on the land of Bas Zuiderent in the Euro 2024 semis.

Sussex’s recent home win over Kent, as a bounce-back from defeat by Surrey, followed immediately from England’s game against Denmark in a 5pm kick-off in Germany.

This time, Blast and Euros go head-to-head at prime time.

When the summer game isn’t competing against football, it is up against the weather.

One wondered about the wisdom of going back out on Friday after a 50-minute rain delay.

Hove is a quick-drying ground but the outfield was still slippery.

Sussex, having seemingly lost the game once, were handed a free hit as they were set a target of 79 from 28 with a damp ball and greasy conditions for the fielders.

A tough target, admittedly. But not as tough as trying to win a match while sitting in the pavilion looking at the sodden covers.

Dan Hughes quickly hit two sixes but then holed out on the legside boundary looking for a third and the hosts finished on 190-8 from 18 overs for what goes down as a 24-run defeat by DLS.

They had always been chasing the game after Glamorgan enjoyed a bountiful powerplay with the bat.

Hughes, who made 74 off 38 balls, said: “It’s a bit disappointing, especially our start to their innings.

“They got 81 from six overs and it was tough for us to claw it back from there.

“We had a chance even after the rain.

“You have to stay in the contest as deep as you can when you are chasing a score like that but we were chasing the game after the powerplay, it was always going to be tough from there.

“We have to sort a few things out with the ball - although I thought Tymal Mills was outstanding again - and in the field.

“We’re still playing some good cricket and we won’t get too down on ourselves with five games to go.”

Mills was again the pick of the Sussex bowlers and a late flurry of wickets left him with figures of 4-29.

Kiran Carlson hit a career-best 87 off 47 balls before he was caught at extra cover in the 19th over off the Sharks skipper.

But Ollie Robinson was missed, especially in the powerplay.

Harrison Ward, a power-hitter at the top of the Sussex innings, either comes off or he doesn’t.

On this occasion, he really needed to go big and he hit a six in the first over before immediately falling to a superb catch above his head by Marnus Labuschagne at mid-off.

Tom Clark looked understandably rusty on his return from injury and seemed to take an eternity to get going – one run from his first seven balls, in fact.

But his free-flowing 29 from the next 12 was a great sign for the coming weeks.

Not for the first time, Tarring’s Mason Crane then derailed Sussex at Hove as, in his first over, he removed Clark via a stumping before James Coles hit a four off his first ball and was bowled aiming a similar legside heave at his second.

Glamorgan won again yesterday. Beating Sussex has ignited unlikely charges to eventual Finals Day glory for both Essex and Hampshire in recent seasons.

Sharks can ensure they get back on track by beating the latter.

Friday promised much with a high-flying Sussex side playing at home on a Friday night but turned into a damp squib in more ways than one.

Disappointing – but Sussex do not need to pay the penalty.