Lancashire crashed to defeat in the Twenty20 final

Lancs won six one-day crowns in the 1990s but have lost six semis since and slipped up to Somerset on Saturday.

"We've got one step further than we have done in the last four or five years," said Chilton.

"I had a really good feeling - I thought we were going to win it - but I don't think it's a case of choking."

Twenty20 is that sort of game where things can change very quickly Mark Chilton

In a match shortened to 16 overs per side because of rain, the Lightning were in deep trouble after losing Mal Loye and Andrew Flintoff in the first three overs.

Three more batsmen fell in the next three and despite Stuart Law's innings of 59 they were unable to post a defendable total.

But Chilton defended a batting plan that saw them lose just one game in the group stages and gain revenge on Surrey for last year's semi-final defeat.

"We have played some exceptional cricket in this competition and unfortunately we just fell at the final hurdle," Chilton continued.

"The first half an hour of the game went against us and Twenty20 is that sort of game where things can change very quickly.

"In previous games we've started so well that we've been able to continue that assault throughout the 20 overs.

"But if you lose two or three wickets it pegs you back - you lose the strong start and the powerful middle as well."

However, the batsman maintained that his attack could still have cut Somerset short had they dismissed man-of-the-match Graeme Smith, who finished unbeaten on 64.

"It was always going to be a tough target to defend," he added.

"We just fancied if we got a couple of good players out we were really in with a good shout."