Glen Chapple: Lancashire must cling on to good form

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple does not want any thoughts of promotion to affect his side's good form after they moved to the top of Division Two.

The Red Rose county moved a step closer to an immediate return to the Championship's top tier by wrapping up an eight-wicket victory at Northants.

"We're playing with confidence and quality," said veteran seamer Chapple.

"We're in one of those patches that, once you're in, you've got to cling to," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But it's one game at a time and we're looking forward to the next game [at home against Glamorgan, starting on Monday]."

Lancashire, who have won their last three Division Two matches and are unbeaten in the four-day game this year, were one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season, having lifted the Championship title as recently as 2011.

Victory at Northampton was achieved with stand-out performances from Australia batsman Simon Katich, who hit a superb double-century in Lancashire's first innings, and spinner Simon Kerrigan, who claimed 7-63 on the final day.

Chapple, 39, added: "Simon Katich is a world-class player and he's playing really well for us. Innings like that are not easy to play.

"Simon Kerrigan feels he can bowl better than that. He got some rough and bowled brilliantly to their left-handers, which really opened the game up for us.

"But wins like that don't come about by two players playing well - it's all 11 that should take the credit."