INTERVIEW: Steven Croft reflects on Kent victory
Lancashire Cricket’s head coach Steven Croft said his side put in a “fantastic” performance to beat Kent Spitfires in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, at their new second home, AO Farington Cricket Ground.
The Red Rose won the inaugural professional match at AO Farington Cricket Ground, a victory which certainly pleased their head coach.
“[It was a] fantastic [victory]. We took the momentum from the last game. Obviously, it’s a new venue for us, obviously we trained here a couple of times, but the lads were up to the challenge.
To knock off 240, four down, was great from the lads, and we obviously had a bit left in the tank as well if we wanted to go harder. But, I thought the lads, the batters especially, judged it really well.”
Lancashire’s top six got the job done against the Spitfires. Opener Matty Hurst anchored the innings with a patient 55, with Keaton Jennings (31), Josh Bohannon (47) and Marcus Harris (47) batting around him.
Croft was impressed by that top four, who helped guide Lancashire to victory for the first time at AO Farington Cricket Ground.
“I thought that the batters judged the whole chase really well. I thought [there were] great foundations laid by Keats and Hursty once again.
Bosh came in and kept up with the rate, and Harry, what he has done over the last three games, is really give us a bit of impetuous and a cool head. Then the youngsters knocked it off again, so great for them to play a part as well.”
The youngsters in question here are Rocky Flintoff and Joe Moores. After putting on an unbeaten partnership of 72 on Sunday against Leicestershire Foxes, they were there at the end to see the Red Rose home against Kent.
Flintoff shone with a composed 41 not out, and Moores ended not out on 1 having faced 2 balls. Croft spoke highly of their performances over the last couple of games.
“Both played [well], especially Rocky today, he showed his class really, and had a nice cool, calm head. We saw he can get it over the rope, the other day, as can Mooresy, and we’ve seen that in the T20s as well. [It’s] great to see them go out there and such mature innings for such young lads."
The Red Rose are three games into the competition now, with a positive record and two wins on the bounce going into Thursday’s clash with Nottinghamshire Outlaws at AO Farington Cricket Ground.
Croft said he is pleased with what he has seen so far, in a competition where the games come thick and fast.
“Yeah, most definitely [he is pleased with the cricket Lancashire are playing]. In this competition, we play at seven different grounds this year, so, yeah, there’s not one way to play, and I think it’s [about] adapting.
We saw a more free style of play at Grace Road, and then we knew it might be a little bit different today, which it was. The lads have adapted. We know different grounds are going to require different things and the lads have been up to the challenge so far.
I don’t think there is, sort of, one way to play in this competition. You have to adapt, we’ll use quite a few different players as well, so roles will chance throughout the competition, but so far, so good with the boys."
Tickets for Lancashire’s next game at AO Farington Cricket Ground against the Outlaws are now sold out, but you can watch live on LancsTV.
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