Essex181-8

Warwickshire182-5

(Benson and Hedges Cup final)

ESSEX captain Ronnie Irani believes his side need to learn from their shock defeat against Warwickshire in the last ever Benson and Hedges Cup final at Lords on Saturday.

After seeing the form book tipped upsidedown on the big stage as the Bears secured a comfortable five-wicket victory the man who was hoping to celebrate his call-up to the England team with victory, believes his side need to move on from their poor batting display that left them at just 61 for five when he was dismissed.

He said: "We were poor in all departments and we let ourselves and our supporters down.

"Our one-day form speaks for itself this season. We have been outstanding but we came down at the final hurdle when it mattered most today.

"However we have to go away and learn from it. We cannot go and sink our heads in the sand."

The Essex skipper did however have the small consolation that the two wickets he took made him the most successful bowler ever in the B&H cup.

June 27, 2002 10:30