Brown features for the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition

Norfolk player-coach Chris Brown insists he will continue to stand by the youth contingent in his squad.

The 35-year-old's side suffered an eight-wicket defeat by Lincolnshire with a handful of young players.

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "The reason those younger lads are playing is, we feel, they're among the best 11 cricketers available to Norfolk.

"It's a learning curve for them, but we've got a good blend of experience and exciting young players."

Darren Smith and Luke Caswell, both 21, failed to impress in Norfolk's middle-order along with 20-year-old Peter Lambert, but Brown has no fears about their potential.

We're hoping for 24 points from Stone which could probably get us fourth in the table Norfolk player-coach Chris Brown

"Once we get our batting skills and our bowling skills right at the same time, that's when we'll win matches," he said.

"We've shown glimpses in previous games, but if we can marry the batting and the bowling we will dominate matches.

"We don't have a God-given right to win cricket matches but, when we do meet up, we need to talk together and ensure it doesn't happen again."

The defeat leaves Norfolk without a win this season in the Minor Counties Eastern Division, but Brown is confident they can make the breakthrough in their final match against Staffordshire.

"Desperate is the right word. Staffordshire have struggled massively this year," he added.

"We're hoping for 24 points from Stone which could probably get us fourth in the table, which will give us momentum for the winter and we can look forward to next year."

Norfolk: 92 (Spelman 25, Bush 29, Dowman 6-19, Osmond 3-7) and 139 (Ward 49, Lambert 19, Osmond 4-39, Andrews 3-17).

Lincolnshire: 179 (Cook 60, Birch 48, Brown 3-26, Walker 3-27) and 54 (Birch 29, Andrews 15no, Walker 1-11, Brown 1-14).

Lincolnshire win by eight wickets.

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