ESSEX head coach Paul Grayson has called on his side to move on from the disappointment of another T20 finals day failure and end the season on a high.
The Eagles were beaten by seven wickets when they came up against eventual champions Northamptonshire in the first semi-final at Edgbaston – the fourth time Essex have been beaten in a T20 semi-final.
But with a four-day game starting yesterday against the same opposition at Colchester and there still being a chance of reaching the YB40 semi-finals, Grayson insists his side can still enjoy success this season.
He said: "We've still got six matches to go in the County Championship, there's going to be twists and turns and all we can do is keep trying to win matches, keep taking points and hopefully come the end of September we are in a position to say we've either caught Lancashire or finished second.
"The County Championship is still the most important format of cricket for me – I still see that as the pinnacle, trying to play Division One cricket and that's what we're aiming to do in the next six or seven weeks.
"There is a determination and focus. It's down to us as a group to make sure we prepare properly. They are determined to finish the season on a real high note.
"Practice has been good, there's a lot of energy around the place and we've got to bring that to our game this week."
The Eagles posted 168-5 in their 20 overs at Edgbaston, and looked to be in with a shout of defending it until a brilliant late onslaught by Steven Crook and Cameron White saw Northamptonshire home.
The Steelbacks went on to win the final against Surrey by 102 runs making Essex's effort more impressive – though that was little consolation to Grayson.
"It was very disappointing because at the halfway stage I thought we'd got enough runs to be honest," he said. "The way we've bowled in the competition, I thought we would defend that.
"But all credit to Northants, they blew us away in the last five overs, Steven Crook played an outstanding innings and I think they showed everyone in the final what a good side they are.
"The best side won the competition, throughout the day on Saturday they were the best side – not only did they beat us, they annihilated Surrey as well, so they showed everyone they are a good side, and congratulations to them.
"Once we'd got knocked out I wasn't too fussed who went on and won it.
"We knew at finals day there would be four good sides there and we were part of that. Unfortunately for us we just fell away at the final hurdle, I thought we played ok, we didn't play badly, it was just one of those performances where maybe Northants were just destined to win that trophy on Saturday.
"Everything went their way. We did well to get the score we did, Napes played an outstanding knock with James Foster to get us up to that score, but I felt in control, even when Levi was still there, I thought we could get a couple of wickets and put them under pressure because they've not chased too well this year in Twenty20 cricket, they'd only won twice chasing.
"But it's a huge disappointment for everyone at the club, when you get to finals day you want to win it, but we've got to move on from that now.
"We've got a big County Championship match and we're still in contention in the YB40, so there's still lots to play for."