Lehmann relieved as Steelbacks get over the line to start Blast campaign on a high
Head coach Darren Lehmann hailed his team's fighting spirit as Northants Steelbacks secured a dramatic three-run win over Glamorgan to start their Vitality Blast campaign on a high at a packed County Ground on Friday night.
The Australian felt the batters under-performed as the County posted 165 for eight in their 20 overs, but he was very happy with his bowlers and the fielding performance as Glamorgan were restricted to 162 for eight in reply.
In a tense finish, the Welshmen needed 10 to win from the final over bowled by George Scrimshaw, and with the big-hitting Dan Douthwaite very well set.
But the tall Steelbacks bowler held his nerve as Glamorgan could only manage six runs off the final six balls, leaving Northants to celebrate a hard-earned victory.
"That was a great game," said Lehmann. "We were short with the bat, probably 20 short, and the bowlers then just did what we try and do all the time when we make a score.
"They tried to keep it tight, and I thought David Willey was excellent in his captaincy and rotating the bowlers, and James Sales was brilliant.
"That is his first game in a long time in the T20, so that was pleasing.
"We do have a bit of work to do with the batting, but having said that you have to win these games early in the tournament, and we did."
Justin Broad top-scored with 38, but Sales scored what turned out to be a crucial 10 not out, finished with one for 23 from four excellent overs, and also took a brilliant catch off a steepling hit from Glamorgan skipper Kiran Carlson to set the ball rolling with the first wicket in the visitors' reply.
"The catch James took got us on the right move straight away, and that was a tough catch," said Lehmann.
"We pride ourselves on getting our fielding right and we have got a couple of old movers in the field, but we have some great movers as well.
"I thought all the fielding was exceptional, our bowling plans were good, and although we were short with the bat that is something to work on for the next game.
"If we keep up that intensity in the field and with the ball then we will be fine."
And on Scrimshaw's final over performance, Lehmann admitted: "It was great wasn't it?
"I thought Dave juggled it really well to have Scrim bowl to the long side for the last over, and 10 runs to get the way Douthwaite was hitting was always going to be tough work.
"But we thought Scrim was fantastic. It was nerve-wracking but I love it, because you want these boys to do really well.
"For us to get a win like that first game is really pleasing."