Jennings calls for Lancs response in 'crunch time'

Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings has scored four Championship hundreds in 2024

Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings is calling for a response from his players in "crunch time" as they face the threat of relegation in the County Championship.

The Red Rose are ninth in Division One, 10 points adrift of safety, with three matches of the season remaining.

They were thrashed by eight wickets in the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast by Sussex Sharks on Wednesday, ending their hopes of a trophy this season.

It was Lancashire's 10th defeat in 12 matches across all three formats stretching back to mid-July.

"This is crunch time now, we have to make sure we're good," said Jennings.

"We have to make sure we're at the races. It's not about excuses, looking at this game or what has been over the last four, five, six months."

Despite the inclusion of their England players and T20 specialists, Lancashire were bowled out for 114 in just over 15 overs at Hove.

Sussex then cruised to Finals Day with 35 balls to spare, making it another miserable evening for Jennings' team.

It followed on from successive Championship defeats by an innings to Surrey and Hampshire, the first time that has happened to the Red Rose since 1907.

Lancashire return to action against Durham at Chester-le-Street on Monday, followed by games with Somerset and Worcestershire as they try to avoid relegation.

The side will be much changed from the one used in the T20 Blast, but Jennings is calling for a big push.

"The guys that have been at home have trained all week, they've put in the work to hopefully be ready for that Durham game," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We've got a massive run-in now where the guys have to be raring to go, fit and healthy and energised to go at it."