Lehmann hails 'fantastic' Steelbacks as Gloucestershire are swept aside in Blast
Darren Lehmann was delighted to see Northants Steelbacks turn in a dominant performance to hammer Gloucestershire by seven wickets at the cinch County Ground on Friday night and make it three wins out of three in the Vitality Blast.
Northants are four points clear at the top of the Central & West Group and the only team with a 100 per cent record after they proved too strong for a Gloucestershire side that had also won their opening two matches.
They were no match for a James Sales-inspired Steelbacks though.
The 23-year-old claimed career-best T20 figures of five for 21 - the third best by a Northants player in T20 cricket - as Gloucestershire were restricted to 164 for nine after being asked to bat.
And the Australian duo of Chris Lynn (69 from 36 balls) and Nathan McSweeney (53 from 36) then ensured the Steelbacks got home with seven wickets and 22 balls to spare.
"We were pretty good with the ball and fielded well again, so that's pleasing," said Lehmann.
"We took a bit of a gamble bowling first, because we like to bat first, but with the bit of dew it played a little bit better at night, and we batted really well which was fantastic.
"It was probably a 190/200 wicket, we thought it was a going to be a good one, so for us to get done easily is good as well, because you never know do you?
"The opening batting was great, McSweeney played well, and it was just a good performance.
"We got on a roll with the ball, which was pleasing, because outfield was so quick and small.
"It was great entertainment still, and everybody who came will have enjoyed themselves, but it's just important we are really disciplined in what we do."
Lehmann was also very happy with the performance of Sales, whose appearance in the three-run win over Glamorgan eight days ago was his first in T20 cricket for three years.
He claimed a career-best three for 28 at Worcestershire on Sunday and then bettered it in style against Gloucestershire, and all after going through the disappointment of not being selected to play in either of England Lions' four-day matches against South Africa A.
Sales made the squad, but not coach Andrew Flintoff’s team, and the Lions' loss has very much been the Steelbacks' gain in the past week or so.
"James is a bit skiddy, a bit quicker than you think, and he bowled beautifully," said Lehmann.
"It would have been nice for him to play for England Lions, and they have obviously spoken to him so that's fine and he understands.
"He just has to keep performing for us and that is all he can do.
"We want to keep pushing his name forward and he is doing the right thing with the ball for us.
"He is batting quite low for us in the T20 set-up, but he has been great in the field and hopefully he will get his chance soon."
The Steelbacks are back in action on Sunday when they travel to Edgbaston (start 2.30pm) to take on a Warwickshire side that has started the campaign with three straight defeats, and sit bottom of the table.