INTERVIEW: Steven Croft reflects on Warwickshire game
Lancashire Cricket head coach Steven Croft said his side showed “great character” despite falling to defeat in the Metro Bank One Day Cup away to Warwickshire.
Sunday’s clash at Rugby School saw the Red Rose lose by two wickets, though they took it to the penultimate over and managed to stay in the game throughout.
Arav Shetty bowled an economical 10 overs, which yielded him a wicket. Jack Blatherwick took three wickets with teenager Luke Hands and the experienced Tom Bailey picking up two each, which meant Lancs were never completely out of the game.
Croft was quick to praise that fight which kept his side in the contest until the 49th over of the Bears’ innings.
“I thought it was a great effort [to take the game deep], we showed some great character at the end there. I feel like we let one slip through our hands, at 150-4 at that point. To get into the middle order that little bit quicker with almost 150-odd runs to get would have been interesting.
"Yeah, we let a couple of chances squander through our fingers, but [it was] good to take it as deep as we did do.”
Earlier in the day, with bat in hand, Lancs put 311 on the board after being put in by the hosts at the toss.
89 from Marcus Harris and half-centuries apiece for Josh Bohannon (62) and Rocky Flintoff (61*) helped the Red Rose set Warwickshire a more than competitive target. The home side completed a record chase at Rugby School to secure the win.
Reflecting on the total his side reached after 50 overs, Croft said his side were happy with 311 at the interval.
“We were pleased at the halfway stage with where we were at. If we were being clinical, we would have liked someone to go [and get] three figures, someone to bat around.
“That might have been a small difference for us, and probably similar to them. It might have been an easier chase if they had someone to take them over the line as well. So, I think, probably from both sides, [each innings] just lacked that clinical edge.”
There is now just one game remaining in the group stage of the One Day Cup. Lancashire find themselves third in Group A, holding a qualification spot as things stand.
Things are still wide open, with eight out of the nine teams still in contention to reach the knockout rounds. It makes the trip to Taunton to face Somerset on Tuesday a must win for Lancs. The equation is simple; secure victory, and the Red Rose have done all they can to qualify for the quarter final.
Ahead of the huge game, Croft said his side are going into it with laser focus on securing four points.
“Yeah, it’s [the Group A table] very tight. It’s obviously knockout cricket from here, so we obviously can’t dwell on it too much, [especially with] a quick turnaround.
“Somerset will be as competitive as always and we have to go down there with our best heads on.”
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