As the Red Rose prepare to face the Scottish Saltires in their latest Yorkshire Bank 40 fixture, all-rounder Tom Smith insists the last week could well define Lancashire’s season.
In that time, Lancashire have beaten Surrey and Essex Eagles in one-day cricket with their unforgettale victory over the Chelmsford-based county in the longer format sandwiched inbetween.
And Smith believes his side are responding to the need for points from each remaining game, after an inauspicious start to this season’s limited-overs competition.
“The last week has shaped our season in some ways,” he told Lancashire’s official website.
“We’re still in this competition, we’re going strong and we are in the Championship as well, which is great.
“If we were unbeaten to this point, maybe we might just have taken it a little bit differently, I don’t know. Now definitely not because every game is a cup final now.
“No matter what the opposition is, we have to win. If we play like we did against Essex, we’ll win a lot of games.”
The Scottish Saltires sit bottom of Group B, although Lancashire have come unstuck against their opponents from north of the border before.
In fact, the Saltires have won on each of their three visits to Manchester, most recently in 2008 when they sneaked home by two runs in a 50-over Friends Provident Trophy clash.
However, the Red Rose will be aware a win, coupled with Derbyshire Falcons beating Hampshire Royals, would see Lancashire hit top spot in the group.
And coach Peter Moores is in buoyant mood with his side seemingly hitting their straps at the right time, with the campaign approaching its halfway stage.
“To string wins together in all competitions is what we’ve been looking for, to really play well as a staff,” he said.
“We’re trying to get momentum so that we hit the second half of the season in a very strong position.”
After the completion of today’s day-night clash, Lancashire face Northamptonshire in a four-day encounter before the helter skelter nature of T20 crickets gets underway.
Image courtesy of GCCC, via YouTube, with thanks.
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