Adam Lyth reflected on Yorkshire’s day one performance at Northampton – 312-7 after being asked to bat first – and said: “After facing six or seven overs, I’d have taken that this morning, absolutely.”
Lyth starred with a brilliant 109 off 205 balls at the top of the order, the cornerstone of his county’s progression at the start of his 200th career appearance in the Vitality County Championship.
Yes, he admitted, there was a tinge of frustration given Yorkshire were 202-1 just before he fell in the late afternoon. But, given the conditions, he’s delighted with where the county sit at present.
“It’s got to be right up there,” said Lyth, when asked where this hundred ranked amongst his 35 in first-class cricket.
“Being put in on a green wicket – it was doing plenty early on – I don’t know how me and Beany got through that first hour with the amount of seam movement that was on show.
“I thought we both played magnificently well for that first hour. Unfortunately, Beany got out just before lunch.
“On the whole, I think that’s a very, very good day.
“Obviously, we lost a few wickets in clusters there – a couple of bad shots and things like. They bowled really well, to be fair, and on another day we could have been all out for 200.”
On conditions, Lyth continued: “It was doing quite a bit, and the lads have said it’s still doing a lot with the second new ball.
“It’s a good day, but it could have been a hell of a lot better had we been five down tonight.
“Hopefully Jordan and Rev can get us to that extra point, which would be a great effort.
“Then, when we get bowling, it’s just about challenging the forward defence for long periods of time and taking a few catches in the slips.”
On his own, patient innings, he added: “You have to assess the conditions, and it wasn’t really a driving wicket. That was one of the hardest shots to play all day, even though it’s one of my best.
“We read the conditions really well up top, myself, Beany and Shan.”
