Coach Steindl happy with progress as rout by Kent is redeemed by decent display

SALTIRES coach Peter Steindl was left ruing a costly bowling spell yesterday after a strong fightback with the bat saw his team fall 44 runs short in a defeat to Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Comparing yesterday's match to the nine-wicket defeat by Kent Spitfires a day earlier, however, Steindl was pleased that his squad had at least learned some of the lessons from that result.

"The target we set today was we wanted to come out fighting," Steindl said after a match which takes his team's record in Group C of the Clydesdale Bank 40 to a win and two losses from three games. "We felt we didn't do ourselves favours yesterday.

"We felt in the first game (a win over Leicestershire at Grace Road] we really stood up to them and went toe to toe. Yesterday we let ourselves down, to be honest with you, and weren't as disciplined.

"Today we said right, we want to stand up. We want to fight really hard throughout the game and compete in all areas of the game. We feel we did a far better job today, and are disappointed not to get across the line."

Steindl cited that bowling display in the first half or so of the Outlaws' innings as the main reason for the setback. "We didn't start out great with the ball – we were a little bit wide," he said. "If you have a look at the scores around the country recently in this competition, with 20 overs, 25 overs, we were in danger of going for 330.

"You've got to take hats off to the lads for coming back and putting in a strong performance in that last 15 overs. Credit to them for that – it was a fantastic effort.

"Batting-wise, the first 12 overs were as good as I've seen. We were positive and aggressive. We lost our way a little bit in the middle overs. We lost too many wickets at times when we could have sat in. We finished off strong, but it wasn't to be today. But there were a lot more positive signs for us."

In retrospect, the blooding of Freddie Coleman may come to be seen as one of those positive signs, although the 17-year-old found it tough against the Outlaws, lasting only three balls.

"The first game of cricket for your country is always going to be a big ask, isn't it?" noted Steindl. "He's got talent, he's got the right attributes, and those signs are good. It's just important he picks himself up and gives himself a good shout the next time he plays.

"He's a young lad. He's not the finished article, he knows that, but at the same time he's keen to learn. He wants to get better and he genuinely wants to be a cricketer. He'll pick himself up."

The most positive sign for the coach was the display of Richie Berrington, whose 54 helped the home team surpass the 200 mark before his stumping ended their innings at 213.

"It's great to see him out there exerting his game on the bowlers," the coach said of the South African-born player. "His game plan is getting more fine-tuned and it's great to see. But at the same time, Richie sets himself really high standards, and he'll be looking to improve himself all the time."