Jack Shutt reflected on his remarkable 5-11 against Durham last night, admitting: “I can’t believe it.”
The 22-year-old off-spinner returned Yorkshire’s second best figures in T20 history, including bowling Australian star D’Arcy Short with a beauty, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Durham slipped from 70-0 to 132 all out chasing 147.
Yorkshire are now three points behind fourth place in the race for the quarter-finals with three games remaining.
Derbyshire are fourth and occupy the last quarter-final qualifying place on 12 points from 12 games, while Yorkshire are seventh on 11 from 11 games.
They have a game in hand on the three teams above them and face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Sunday (3.30pm).
“We’re right in with a shout, but we have to win our last three games,” said Shutt.
“I’ve not actually played at Trent Bridge before. Hopefully there’s a bit of spin! They’re a tough side to play against, but we’ll see what happens.”
Notts are third in the table and on course for the quarter-finals with five wins from 11.
Shutt was speaking at Durham last night whilst children were singing his name: “That’s surreal,” he laughed, quite clearly struggling to take in the size of his and Yorkshire’s achievement.
“There was a little bit in the pitch for me, and sometimes in T20 cricket it just goes for you and it’s your night,” he reflected. “I’m really pleased.
“There was a bit of grip first innings, so we knew there was something in the pitch.
“The four spinners who bowled bowled well.
“I’ve not been involved in a game like that for, well, ever!
“There’s a lot of ups and downs in T20 cricket. Just go back to last week against Warwickshire. I bowled one over for 15. You can’t get too carried away and will have highs and lows.
“Getting D’Arcy Short out, I’ve seen a lot of him on telly, and he’s a proper player. Luckily I got him with a good one. I haven’t bowled too many better balls than that in my career.”
On a pitch suiting spin, Adam Lyth took three wickets in the penultimate over, added to a run out, as Durham slipped from 128-6 to 132 all out.
“I really rate Lythy’s bowling, seeing him bowl in the nets and stuff. It doesn’t surprise me to see what he did.”
Shutt’s figures were Yorkshire’s second best in T20 history behind Tim Bresnan’s 6-19 against Lancashire at Emerald Headingley in 2017.
“Really?” said the youngster from Barnsley. “I remember watching that game.”
He added: “We’ve been disappointed with how it’s gone so far, but we have three games to go and have to win all three. But you can take a lot of momentum in T20 cricket. Who knows what can happen.”
Meanwhile, Jack Leaning, another star of the Durham win with 39 with the bat and one wicket with the ball, will join Kent at the end of the season on a permanent deal.
Team news
Tom Kohler-Cadmore continues to captain the side.
Spinners Josh Poysden (head), Adil Rashid (shoulder) and James Logan (back) have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Seamer Matthew Fisher (dislocated shoulder/broken thumb), who has been easing back into his bowling work, is close to a return to competitive cricket.
Vikings squad
Tim Bresnan
Harry Brook
Will Fraine
Tom Kohler-Cadmore ©
Jack Leaning
Adam Lyth
Keshav Maharaj
Duanne Olivier
Mathew Pillans
Jack Shutt
Jonny Tattersall (WK)
Jordan Thompson
Matthew Waite
David Willey
