By Graham Hardcastle, Paul Dyson and Jonathan Doidge
Steve Patterson has heaped praise on wicketkeeper Jonny Tattersall after a superb start to his first full summer as Yorkshire’s senior wicketkeeper-batsman.
Tattersall’s unbeaten 14 off five balls against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road last night may have been small in number, but it was huge in significance as he hit all of the 12 needed off the last over to keep Yorkshire’s Royal London one-day Cup qualification hopes alive.
Last month, the 24-year-old started the summer with a maiden first-class century against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities and has hit three further fifties in County Championship and one-day cricket.
His keeping has also been impressive, with his composure a particularly noticeable asset.
Tattersall ousted Andrew Hodd as Yorkshire’s senior wicketkeeper midway through last summer, and he is making the absolute most of his second chance in the county game having been released by Yorkshire in 2015 and re-signed by them in 2017.
Captain Patterson said: “He’s really, really kicked on this year.
“Last year when he came into the team, he put in some good performances as he was finding his feet. But he’s worked hard on his game this winter, as we all do, and the way he’s started the season has just been phenomenal.
“In Championship cricket he’s been solid, but he’s been absolutely outstanding in this form of the game (50-over cricket).
“It’s surprised even me as to how well he’s played.
“It’s a pleasure to see someone playing with that kind of enjoyment and buzz about his game. Hopefully it will continue for the rest of the season.”
Patterson was speaking immediately after Yorkshire’s win over Northants, their second in six RL50 North Group games, and was looking ahead to Saturday’s must win clash with Worcestershire at New Road.
Yorkshire and Worcester are two of six teams separated by only four points at the top of the North Group and chasing a top three finish for qualification.
Notts are top on 10 points, Yorkshire are sixth on six points, with Worcester one of the teams sandwiched in between on eight points.
They are the only side to beat Notts so far, by five wickets chasing only 122 at New Road yesterday.
For captain Patterson, it has been a largely frustrating competition following two ties and a one-run defeat to Lancashire
“The cricket we’ve played, we feel we should have won four or five,” he said.
“Winning the Leicester game so comfortably, by over 200 runs, it was a fantastic start to the tournament. Then we’ve stuttered from there with the two ties and the loss to Lancs.
“We were beaten fair and square by Notts, and you can accept that because we didn’t play well enough.
“It’s those close games where at one stage in all of them we were in control and didn’t see it through. That only adds to the frustration.
“To go on and finish the job at Northants, it’s fantastic for the lads. We’ll take that to Worcester and see how we go.
“All we can do is concentrate on what’s in front of us. We’ve got to win them both (Durham at Emerald Headingley on Monday is the other) and see what else happens.
“Worcester are a good side, we know that.
“But if our lads play to our capabilities, we’re confident we’ll win the game.
“Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Harry Brook, Gary Ballance, if one of those goes on and makes a big score, it will be very hard to stop us winning.”
Team news
One change for Yorkshire with First XI coach Andrew Gale releasing Will Fraine to play club cricket for Honley CC this weekend.
Josh Shaw (quad) is nearing a return to Second XI cricket, while James Logan’s recovery from a broken thumb remains ongoing with his return anticipated in the next two-three weeks.
13-man squad to face Worcestershire Rapids
Gary Ballance
Tim Bresnan
Harry Brook
Ben Coad
Jack Leaning
Adam Lyth
Duanne Ollivier
Steven Patterson ©
Mathew Pillans
Josh Poysden
Jonny Tattersall (WK)
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Matthew Waite
Jonathan Doidge says…
At last! The Vikings have come out on the right side of a tight finish for the first time this season, and while their hopes of quarter-final qualification rely on a number of factors, they have given themselves a fighting chance of going through. To do so, they must win their remaining two group games.
It felt like the lads had suffered a little at the hands of the D/L Method in the tie against Derbyshire, and on Wednesday, the rain at Wantage Road also contrived to leave them needing 47 off just 25 balls, after a lengthy delay in what had started as a potential record chase of Northants’ 351 all out.
Needing 32 off the last two overs, thing were looking decidedly bleak. However, up stepped Gary Ballance and rat-tat-tat, three successive sixes changed the game in the blink of an eye. Improbably, Jonny Tattersall then finished the job with time to spare.
That sets things up nicely for the trip to New Road to face Worcestershire, who will be buoyed by their own shock win against table-topping Notts on Wednesday. The dream of the last ever Lord’s 50-over final remains alive… just.
There remains room for improvement in the field, and with the ball, but aside from their disappointment at Trent Bridge and the loss of a few early wickets at Edgbaston, the batting offers cause for optimism. Yorkshire have shown that they can put runs on the board, or chase down big scores if needed. Here’s hoping…
Match statistics
- Worcestershire’s total of 350 for six in the 2018 fixture at Headingley broke the record for the highest innings in all List A games between these two counties. It surpassed Yorkshire’s best of 346 for nine scored earlier in the same match.
- The match aggregate of 696 runs scored in the 2018 game created a new record for all List A matches involving Yorkshire. It lasted for 13 days until beaten at Old Trafford.
- Yorkshire were dismissed for only 90 at Worcester in 1987 but their opponents’ lowest total on the ground is 122 scored in 1975.
- In 1969 Richard Hutton took seven for 15 against Worcestershire at Headingley in the first season of the John Player League. Six years later Howard Cooper took six for 14 at Worcester and these performances are the two best analyses for Yorkshire against any county in all List A cricket. Worcestershire’s best againsy Yorkshire is five for 30 by Robert Chapman at Worcester in 1998.
Milestones
Potential batting milestones in Worcestershire v Yorkshire on 4th May 2019
- MM Ali needs 60 runs to reach 5000 runs in List A matches
- DKH Mitchell needs 68 runs to reach 3500 runs in List A matches
- JA Tattersall needs 138 runs to reach 500 runs in List A matches
- GS Ballance needs 149 runs to reach 4500 runs in List A matches
Potential bowling milestones in Worcestershire v Yorkshire on 4th May 2019
- EG Barnard needs 2 wickets to reach 50 wickets in List A matches
- BL D’Oliveira needs 3 wickets to reach 50 wickets in List A matches
- J Leach needs 7 wickets to reach 50 wickets in List A matches
Royal London One-Day Cup standings
Remaining fixtures
THURSDAY
Lancashire Lightning v Derbyshire Falcons
FRIDAY
Notts Outlaws v Durham
SATURDAY
Leicestershire Foxes v Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Warwickshire v Lancashire Lightning
Worcestershire Rapids v Yorkshire Vikings
MONDAY
Derbyshire Falcons v Worcestershire Rapids
Leicestershire Foxes v Warwickshire
Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Notts Outlaws
Yorkshire Vikings v Durham Lions
Royal London One-Day Cup competition statistics
Yorkshire’s Royal London One-Day Cup statistics
The opposition
WORCESTERSHIRE
- Head of player and coaches development: Kevin Sharp, First-team coach: Will Gidman
- Captain: Joe Leach
- 2018: CC 8th in Div 1, RL50 SF, T20 Winners
Last season’s Vitality Blast champions have been unable to shake the yo-yo tag in Championship cricket and face another season in Division Two.
The Rapids have arguably been the best limited overs side in county cricket in the last two years, also reaching the semi-finals in each of the last two Royal London one-day Cups.
Kevin Sharp has moved ‘upstairs’. He has taken on the role of head of player and coaches development, while Will Gidman has taken over as first-team coach having been in charge of the seconds.
South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell has switched from overseas to Kolpak, while batsman Riki Wessels has joined from Notts.
Australian batsman Callum Ferguson returns as overseas for all formats, while powerful New Zealand opener Martin Guptill will again play in the Blast. Fast bowler Dillon Pennington starred against Yorkshire at Scarborough last year and should continue his rise.
Last time out
23/05/18 – Emerald Headingley
Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a record chase of 351 against Worcestershire Rapids and lost their second successive Royal London one-day Cup home match at Emerald Headingley in thrilling fashion.
The Vikings, who failed to hit six off the last ball with one wicket remaining, face champions Nottinghamshire here on Friday having won one from their first three North Group matches.
A high-scoring contest saw former Yorkshire overseas Travis Head score top-score with 77 as one of four half-centurions for the visitors, who made 350-6.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore helped get Yorkshire’s chase off to an impressive start with 89 off 85 balls against his former county, sharing 72 for the first wicket with Adam Lyth and 101 for the second with centurion Che Pujara to take the score to 173-1 in the 30th over.
Unfortunately, however, the hosts were left with too much to do after he departed, despite some exhilarating lower order hitting, and finished on 346 for nine. Andrew Hodd faced the last ball, while Pujara made 101 off 94 balls. They lost by four runs.
Left-handed Ross Whiteley smashed a late unbeaten 66 as 122 runs came off the last 10 overs for Worcester, who ensured Yorkshire conceded their second highest List A total having been invited to bat.
Matchday guide
- Information on Worcestershire’s matchday offering, as well as a detailed guide to New Road, can be found at the below link.
Ways to follow
- Ball-by-ball BBC Radio Commentary…
- Via the club’s match centre below, including live stream…
Weather
Outlook for Friday to Sunday
A cold front will bring some outbreaks of rain through Friday morning and afternoon, while overnight these may turn wintry in higher ground. Saturday and Sunday will then stay largely dry with sunny spells, but noticeably cooler than recently with highs a bit below average for early May.
