Newcomer Colin Munro blamed costly errors for the Outlaw's Vitality Blast defeat at Lancashire Lightning, but was equally keen to highlight the positive performances dotted throughout a high-scoring encounter at Emirates Old Trafford.
The hosts posted a more-than-healthy score of 208/4, with Daryl Mitchell surviving several near-catches before firing home a crucial 85 runs from 41 balls.
Peter Moores’ side ultimately fell short in a valiant display with the bat, closing on 186/5.
“Mitchell batted us out of the game,” Munro said post-match, “You can’t give someone like him those chances and let him get away with it.
“We spoke after the game and thought that our score was par for the ground, so ultimately they scored too many for our liking.”
Only two games into the Vitality Blast campaign, Munro emphasised the importance of ‘parking’ the result and learning from the positive performances dotted throughout a high-scoring spectacle in Manchester.
“We came out in the second half and gave it a good shot with the bat,” he added, “we’ll take the positives and I think you need to do that early on in the tournament.
“Our catching let us down tonight but that happens.”
Weathering an early storm with a slow start in the powerplay overs, the Outlaws etched ever closer to the target run rate - and Munro felt that the high target was achievable for a large portion of the innings: “If myself and (Montgomery) were able to put on a longer partnership - if I could have stayed in for another three or four overs - then I think we could have been even closer to winning it.
“But we have to give credit to them, they bowled well and kept the stumps in play.”
Munro topped the Outlaws’ scoring on this occasion, posting a well-measured 60 which featured an array of dazzling sixes, and was pleased with his own performance at the crease.
“I’m getting older and sometimes wonder if I can still play my natural game, so it was great to get a couple of starts.
“It’s never nice losing, but I can look back and take plenty of positives moving forward.”