Jordan Thompson says Yorkshire are refusing to panic, but he knows they can’t afford too many more slip ups if they are to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast.
Thompson impressed with 3-23 from three overs of seamers in last night’s defeat against Derbyshire; their second in three days and their fourth in eight North Group games in all.
The Vikings, however, get an immediate chance to bounce back when Leicestershire Foxes visit Emerald Headingley tonight (6.30pm) as they bid to keep pace in an incredibly competitive group.
Yorkshire lost by 77 runs against the Falcons after being set a target of 180 in 17 overs.
Earlier, Thompson struck twice in an over on the way to his three-for on home debut.
The 21-year-old all-rounder came in for his second first-team appearance having played in the televised win at Worcestershire earlier this month, also taking a wicket and scoring a late and important 12.
“For me, a positive’s come out of it. But, at the end of the day, I’d rather take a win than three wickets,” he said, first of all reflecting on the Derby defeat.
“We said in the dressing room that we were below par with the ball and bat.
“It’s disappointing, two defeats in two. But we’ll look to bounce back (against Leicester).
“We’ve got to put this to bed and face a Leicester team who we really need to beat to get back on track.
“It’s not panic stations yet. We’ve done some good things so far in this competition, and we’ll look to move on and perform well.
“Leicester are dangerous, as Derby have been. They seem to do well in the T20.”
The Leeds-born Academy graduate, who plays his league cricket for Pudsey St Lawrence, went on: “I picked up three wickets and bowled reasonably well, although I bowled a couple of loose balls in my first two overs.
“But, as I said, I’d rather have got the win. You want to be doing well individually, but you also want to be getting to Finals Day and winning this competition.”
Thompson was one of two changes to Yorkshire’s team last night as he and Harry Brook replaced England duo Adil Rashid (Test duty) and Liam Plunkett (injured).
It came just over a fortnight after his debut at New Road.
He recalled: “It was a good start at Worcester with the win.
“It was a surprise call and came out of nowhere. I found out probably an hour before the game, but I went out there and took it in my stride.
“I had the attitude of trying to just do what I’d done in the seconds and continue the form.
“It’s important to do that and treat it as just another game of cricket. The Worcester game was on TV and it was my first first-team cricket, but it’s just another game. You have to block everything else out.”
Yorkshire now sit sixth in the table with four wins and four losses from eight, although they are likely to return to the top four quarter-final qualifying places if they beat the Foxes.
Leicester have won three and lost four of their seven games so far and have Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Abbas and Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi as their two overseas players.
They lost last time out against Derbyshire on Friday.
Team news
First XI coach Andrew Gale has added Josh Shaw to an enlarged 14-man squad for tonight’s crunch Vitality Blast fixture against the Foxes.
Shaw comes in as cover for Liam Plunkett (hip), who will be assessed by the club’s medical staff ahead of tonight’s match.
14-MAN SQUAD TO FACE LEICESTERSHIRE FOXES.
Gary Ballance
Tim Bresnan
Harry Brook
Jack Brooks
Tom Kohler-Cadmore
Adam Lyth
Steven Patterson ©
Liam Plunkett
Azeem Rafiq
Josh Shaw
Jonny Tattersall (WK)
Jordan Thompson
Kane Williamson
David Willey
Match statistics
• Yorkshire’s record in T20 matches against Leicestershire (won seven, lost 12) is their worst amongst the five coutnies against which they have played at least 20 matches.
• Each team has passed 200 once in T20 matches between these two counties and both occurrences were at Headingley.
• In 2004 Darren Maddy scored 111 at Headingley and this remains the highest innings in a T20 match for any opponent against Yorkshire.
• Two Yorkshire bowlers have taken at least four wickets in an innings in a T20 match between these two counties but no one has do so for Leicestershire.
Milestones
Potential batting milestones in Yorkshire v Leicestershire on 31st Jul 2018
TT Bresnan needs 1 runs to reach 1500 runs in Twenty20 matches
PJ Horton needs 23 runs to reach 1500 runs in Twenty20 matches
GS Ballance needs 32 runs to reach 500 runs in Twenty20 matches at Leeds
A Javid needs 51 runs to reach 500 runs in Twenty20 matches
JE Root needs 80 runs to reach 1500 runs in Twenty20 matches
AJ Hodd needs 100 runs to reach 500 runs in Twenty20 matches
KS Williamson needs 102 runs to reach 4000 runs in Twenty20 matches
JA Leaning needs 117 runs to reach 500 runs in Twenty20 matches at Leeds
CS Delport needs 119 runs to reach 3500 runs in Twenty20 matches
AZ Lees needs 143 runs to reach 1000 runs in Twenty20 matches
Potential bowling milestones in Yorkshire v Leicestershire on 31st Jul 2018
CS Delport needs 2 wickets to reach 50 wickets in Twenty20 matches
Azeem Rafiq needs 3 wickets to reach 100 wickets in Twenty20 matches
Azeem Rafiq needs 6 wickets to reach 50 wickets in Twenty20 matches at Leeds
Mohammad Nabi needs 7 wickets to reach 200 wickets in Twenty20 matches
JA Brooks needs 9 wickets to reach 50 wickets in Twenty20 matches
