Halstead Cricket Club coach Phil Toogood is telling his batsmen that they need to take more responsibility and is demanding a changed mindset for the rest of the season.

Despite a good display with the ball, when they skittled hosts Worlington out for 100 runs below a par score, they largely failed to fire with the bat as they fell 18 runs short of their target.

It was a fourth Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division one loss in a row and leaves Halstead looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation places ahead of a crunch game against Frinton seconds at Star Stile today.

So while Toogood had praise for the bowling display at Worlington, he is demanding better from the first-team batting line-up.

He said: “I drove home in the post-match briefing that these guys have to take some responsibility to the wicket when they go out to bat.

“Our aim in the short term is to quickly develop a model of becoming ‘difficult to beat’ as opposed to attacking all out.

“This is our challenge for the rest of the season.

“Sometimes we must dig in and grind out victories and lose the flamboyant shots we tend to play early on.

“It’s costing us too many points.

“Young Harry Pritchard impressed me with his innings.

“He dug in in what was a very intimidating atmosphere when Worlington were closing in on a victory that they could have only dreamt of at half-time.

“He, along with Sam, should have gained a great deal from their experiences and fast-track their development as Halstead cricketers.

“It’s now another must-win game for us on Saturday and I’ll be looking for other significant contributions throughout the team in addition to the skipper.”