Steven Croft wants an end to Lancashire 'falling behind' in matches after Rothesay County Championship loss

Lancashire men’s head coach Steven Croft has challenged his players to step up with the bat after a third defeat in their Rothesay County Championship Second Division campaign.

The Red Rose lost by 140 runs to Kent at Blackpool CC, where they were dismissed for 283 chasing a record-breaking 424 for victory on the Fylde coast.

Their main resistance came from Marcus Harris, who made 91 not out, and Keaton Jennings, who added 61 as they put on 104 for the third wicket.

However, Hasan Mahmud returned career-best innings and match figures on his Kent debut with 6-69 in the second innings and 9-101 in the match.

Having bowled out Kent for 178 on Friday’s opening day at Stanley Park, Lancashire left themselves up against it after being skittled for 87 in reply.

Kent then posted 332 in their second innings, posting a tally which proved too great for Croft’s players to chase down.

Speaking afterwards, Croft said: “I think we did well with the ball first up but if we're brutally honest with ourselves, we were slow into the first session, we came back really well.

“Maybe we could have shaved a few off their first innings and obviously do better in our first innings batting and make it a one-innings game.

“We knew the wicket was going to get better and then it's a one-innings shootout. The 87 all out obviously didn't help.

“I think the wicket caught both sides cold a bit. The pitch did a little bit that first day.

“I think it was a mix of some good bowling, some average batting. The game really accelerated in that first day and a half.

“We felt that, second innings, the pitch was better to bat on. It felt like we had a real premium on every wicket and every partnership.

“Yes, it was laid out in front of us to try and win a game, but I think we have to have that same intent in the first innings with the bat to lay out a game and set a platform to go off.

“Like I said, they weren't easy conditions to bat in and they bowled well, but we should have done some better stuff with the bat.

“Obviously, some injuries haven't helped, there's a change of personnel. It's been hard to get a settled line-up, but that's cricket, there's always going to be injuries.

“We need to step up to the plate and put some runs and wickets and partnerships on the board and just take it up with one ball at a time.

“We're falling behind in games very fast and find it hard to claw our way back into it.”

Lancashire are back in action on Friday, when they visit Chesterfield to face a Derbyshire team who lost by an innings and 22 runs at leaders Durham.