By Martin Gough BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Lancashire came within a whisker of eliminating Surrey at Edgbaston

Lancashire spinner Gary Keedy would rather have lost by a far bigger margin that the single run that took Surrey through to the Twenty20 final.

"I'd sooner lose by 100 runs than one," said Keedy, who took 3-25 to help restrict the Lions to 133.

"I'm gutted that it came to the last ball. There are only two emotions in this game - there's no inbetween.

"With 133 you would think you had a good chance - it was ours to win but we lost wickets at crucial times."

The Lightning needed just seven runs in the final over to inflict Surrey's first ever defeat in the competition - a tie would have been enough as Lancs had lost fewer wickets.

But Azhar Mahmood bowled tightly at the death for the defending champions and Chris Schofield was run out attempting the crucial run.

We didn't get as many as we would have liked in the first six overs Lancashire manager Mike Watkinson

Lancashire manager Mike Watkinson refused to blame any of his side, who went into the day joint favourites to win the competition.

"Everybody is blaming themselves but collectively we didn't bat well enough," he said.

"It's hard to wag the finger at individuals but we needed one man to say, 'I'll finish the job'."

Mahmood had already accounted for dangerman Andrew Flintoff and Mark Chilton by the time the fielding restrictions ended after six overs, and Lancs had just 61 on the board.

"We didn't get as many as we would have liked in the first six," Watkinson admitted.

"Then just as you were thinking the guys were getting set and your hopes were building, they got out."

He also paid tribute to Lions veteran Adam Hollioake, who bowled four overs at the end, taking 1-29.

"Hollioake is their star man - he bowls four overs straight off with plenty of variation and its hard to whack him.

"The wicket is slow and with the keeper up it really makes a difference."

Surrey were lucky to escape a six-run penalty for slow bowling with the umpires adding an extra allowance of three minutes.

Lancashire suffered a further blow when wicket-keeper and captain Warren Hegg re-injured his hamstring, making him doubtful for a crucial period in the Championship campaign.