Tom Clark says Sussex are still targeting a home quarter-final in the Vitality Blast.
But they saw what looked a winning position taken away by Michael Pepper’s stunning 120 not out for Essex at Hove.
Sharks secured their place in the next stage with a big win at Kent on Friday, accompanied by other results.
But they could not build on that at a sold-out Hove, despite controlling the first three quarters of the contest.
Sharks set 207-2 and had their visitors 90-5 before they recovered to win by five wickets with nine balls to spare.
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Clark, who scored 72 not out off 53 balls, said: “At one stage we were in a very strong position but when someone plays an innings like that you have to take your hat off to them.
“There are obviously things we could have done better but he played one hell of a knock and you have to give credit for it.
“We got a good score but nowadays 200 can always be chased on a good pitch like this.
“We were in a good position when we had them 90-5 but they do have a destructive batting line-up.
“It was a pitch you had to adapt to. It was not the flattest of pitches but it was still a good wicket and that was a great knock.
“We still hope to be playing here in the quarters.”
Pepper, who opened the innings, faced just 53 balls and hit nine sixes and nine fours.
He was well supported by Charlie Allison, who made an unbeaten 44 from 26 with a six and four fours.
The pair put on a game-changing partnership worth 121 in nine overs.
Ollie Robinson had earlier taken two wickets with successive balls on his way to figures of 3-27.
Dan Hughes and Clark put on 110 for the second Sussex wicket in just 11 overs.
Hughes made 81 off 43 balls, with five sixes and eight fours, striking at a rate of 188 to take his total to 435 runs in the competition this season.
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