Jason Roy trumpeted his return by blasting 86 from 64 balls to give Surrey renewed hope of forcing their way into the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup.

It piloted his side to a six-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford on Sunday, earning them a second victory in five days after launching the 50-over campaign with defeats to Somerset and Hampshire before beating Gloucestershire.

Surrey’s bid to force their way up the table was hampered, though, by their clash against Sussex at the Kia Oval on Tuesday being abandoned, a prolonged thunderstorm and heavy rain keeping the players indoors.

The single point gained meant Surrey were one of seven teams in the nine-strong group covered by two points.

That means they head into the final three matches – against Kent at Beckenham (Friday), Middlesex at Lord’s (Sunday) and Glamorgan under lights at The Oval (Wednesday) with little room for further mistakes.

Roy spent much of the first month of the season playing in the Indian Premier League, his first Surrey outing coming when he made a duck against Gloucestershire and then watched opening partner Will Jacks hit a century.

In sharp contrast, on Sunday, it was Jacks who failed to score at Chelmsford while Roy hit eight fours and four sixes to ensure Surrey chased 295 for victory with six wickets and five overs to spare.

He dominated a second-wicket stand of 127 in just 18 overs with Dean Elgar, who went on to make 87, and shared a 100 partnership with Ben Foakes, the keeper finishing 84 not out against his old team.

It was a final outing – for now – from South African left-hander Elgar, having scored 402 runs in nine County Championship and RLODC innings after being whistled up as a last-minute replacement for Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who dropped out in early April to have ankle surgery.

Elgar has now returned home for a training camp and was due to be replaced – until late last week – by Virat Kohli for the month of June, amid much fanfare. India’s captain was also struck down at the last minute after suffering a neck strain during the IPL and was ruled out so that he can get fit for his country’s tour later this summer.

“It’s hugely disappointing that Virat won’t be joining Surrey, but we understand that injuries happen and we have to respect the decision to pull him from his stint with us,” said Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart.

Elgar could return later in the summer and Surrey may be able to extend the stay of hard-hitting Australian batsman Aaron Finch, who will be joining for the NatWest T20 Blast in July.

Opener Mark Stoneman’s exit from the England side after their thrashing by Pakistan last weekend means Surrey are likely to have his services for the rest of the summer while the rained-off match against Sussex prevented South African fast bowler Morne Morkel – signed on a Kolpak registration – from making his delayed debut, having been recovering from a side strain. Tom Curran was also due to return from his IPL stint.