Wiese: We only have ourselves to blame

SUSSEX could only watch in frustration as the rain put paid to their One-Day Cup qualification hopes but David Wiese acknowledges the Sharks only have themselves to blame for failing to get out of the South Group.

Sussex’s clash with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the weather.

The Sharks could have taken third place with victory in Southampton and a Surrey slip-up down in Gloucestershire but they were ultimately denied that chance, leaving all-rounder Wiese frustrated, but rueing recent defeats to Gloucestershire and Essex.

“It is a bit disappointing – we came into the game knowing that other results had to go our way and that we had to get on and win this clash,” said Wiese. “To not even have a chance to get on is disappointing and it’s frustrating not to get through to the knockout stages but we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

“We’ve played some good cricket at certain times and got some good momentum when we won three games on the bounce.

“But in the last two games against Essex and Gloucestershire we let ourselves down a little bit.We weren’t quite there and it didn’t click in those games.

“If we had got one or two wins there, we would have been right up there but we haven’t played consistently enough to qualify.”

Sussex ultimately finish fifth in the South Group with three wins and two no results from eight games, while Hampshire, despite a bright start to their campaign, end one place lower with three victories and one no result.