Lehmann's pride in red ball campaign as Northants come up short in promotion bid

The County missed out on promotion to the top flight when they lost by seven wickets to Middlesex at Lord's on Saturday, with Kent securing second place behind champions Durham.

As it transpired, even a win for Northants would not have been enough as Kent swept aside rock-bottom Gloucestershire in their final match at Canterbury to finish 20 points better off.

The County needed would have a win and a maximum bonus point haul to claim the runners-up spot, and they were always up against it after being bowled out for just 103 in their first innings.

Northants did battle back, and Saif Zaib's brilliant 110 did at least mean Middlesex had to score 134 in their second innings to win, which they did, although not in totally convincing fashion.

"We were 100 short with the bat weren't we?," Lehmann told BBC Northampton.

"That was down to the first innings, and the way we batted on Friday was more what we were expecting on the first day.

"Both sides didn't bat well. Middlesex chased them down with three down, but we missed two run-outs, dropped three catches and also took a catch off a no ball.

"So they probably should have been six or seven down, and you're not that far off then.

"So it is a disappointing end to what has been a fantastic year from everyone."

But he then added: "We are really proud of what we have achieved, but you look back on times where we left some points out there over the year.

"And that is the challenge of playing a long season.

"We played some brilliant cricket, and only had a few minor hiccups, but if you reflect on them they are big moments in the year, and we know that.

"The group as a whole has grown.

"We wanted a 20 per cent improvement to get more points throughout the year and more wins, and we have down that.

"Now it is about trying to find another 10 or 15 per cent."

Some of the big key moments Lehmann was referring to will include the umpires calling a halt to the Derbyshire match last time out with Northants 23 runs shy of victory, and then the final day batting collapse against Durham, when Northants were rushed out for just 50.

Another was rain wiping out most of the final day at Canterbury in April when Northants looked on course for a big win against Kent.

But he was also quick to acknowledge the south east side are deserving of their promotion, having won eight matches to Northants' five over the course of the summer.

"You can look back on games, but that is just what it is," said the Australian.

"At Kent we almost played the perfect game, we scored our runs at a good clip and bowled them out, and were then well on track to bowling them out again, so that's a 16 point swing there.

"When it's with you, it's with you, and Kent drew the game before that against Durham when they were under the pump as well.

"But that's the game of cricket and Kent deserve to go up.

"They won more games than us and full credit to Adam Hollioake and his crew.

"They have had a fantastic year, and they now get to do something we can't, and that is play in division one.

"So we will reflect on it, it has been a fantastic year and everybody has enjoyed it, but we just fell a bit short."