JON LEWIS has called for a marked improvement as Durham look to get their disastrous Royal London One-Day Cup campaign back on track when they travel to Derbyshire tomorrow.

Having suffered a 142-run defeat to Yorkshire in their first 50-over outing of the summer, Durham were even more out-of-sorts as they crashed to an embarrassing 192-run loss to Lancashire at the weekend.

The defeat was the second-biggest in Durham’s List A history, only surpassed by the 193-run reverse to Sussex at Hove in 2009, and Lewis’ side mustered just 122 as they were skittled in fewer than 32 overs at Old Trafford.

Durham are the only side in the northern division to have lost both of their opening two One-Day Cup matches, and unsurprisingly find themselves rooted to the foot of the table ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Derby.

With six more group games to play, there is still time for them to turn things around, although Lewis accepts they will have to raise their standards markedly if they are to avoid another disappointment tomorrow afternoon.

“It’s a tall order for us, but with six games left, there is an awful lot that we can do,” said the Durham head coach. “We’re just not good enough at the moment. Sides are getting away from us, not by playing aggressive cricket, but by playing risk-free cricket.”

Sunday’s defeat was made all the more painful by the damage inflicted by Lancashire batsman Keaton Jennings, who moved to Old Trafford from Emirates Riverside at the end of last season.

Jennings made 73 and shared in a first-wicket partnership worth 175 with Alex Davies, who went on to score 147, and the pair effectively put things to bed in the opening 20 overs of the game.

“I can’t defend a lot about it,” said Lewis. “It was pretty poor from the start. We seem to be surprised by the intensity and accuracy that one-day cricket requires.

“300 is not a daunting score these days, but there are still not many grounds where you would chase 300 comfortably.

“We failed to put the pressure on with the ball from the start, and it’s difficult to judge the batting at the moment because we are constantly chasing targets that are bigger than they should be.”