Lessons to be learned for Red Rose
GLEN Chapple says Lancashire can’t hide after failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup.
The Red Rose secured a comprehensive 25-run win over Derbyshire at the 3aaa County Ground.
But results elsewhere mean they cannot now finish in the top three of the North Group - even if they beat Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford in their final match yesterday.
It is the latest in a run of poor performances in the competition in recent years as Lancashire have struggled to match their displays in the T20 Blast in the 50-over format.
But head coach Chapple says this year’s early exit is even more frustrating because he believes they have played well enough to qualify for the knockout stages.
“Three teams from nine is difficult, it is not an easy qualification,” he said.
“It makes it more disappointing because the level of cricket we have played has been good enough to achieve qualification, yet we haven’t qualified.
“To lose three games in the manner that we did is very disappointing and we really have to learn from that.
“We can’t hide, because it has happened twice in two years.
“The cricket we have played when we have won games has been of a really high standard.
“Two of the games we have lost we played good cricket in, but just made individual mistakes which is disappointing.
“The other game at Worcestershire was a poor game of cricket all round really, which we could have won.
“We have played much better cricket this year and the games we have lost we have played well enough in to win.”
Captain Liam Livingstone hit 86 from 73 balls and Jordan Clark 51 from 40 as Lancashire made 290- 8 in their 50 overs.
A century opening stand from Billy Godleman (73) and Ben Slater put Derbyshire on course for victory, before the Red Rose produced an impressive fightback with the ball as the home side finished on 265-8.
Leg-spinner Matthew Parkinson made the key breakthrough by bowling Slater with a beauty - and it was the spinners who made the difference as Parkinson, Parry and Livingstone claimed five wickets between them to halt the home side’s victory bid.
Graham Onions chipped in with two wickets to see Lancashire home, despite a late onslaught from Hardus Viljoen, who blasted 50 from 34 balls.