Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Erin Thomas shone with the bat as Yorkshire beat Durham at the Riverside today.
Erin Thomas hailed “a brilliant win” as Yorkshire cruised past local rivals Durham, the 19-year-old contributing a superb career best 67 along the way.
The White Rose chased down 194 for the loss of four wickets, winning with 15 balls to spare on a slow Banks Homes Riverside pitch, which was used and took turn.
Sarah Glenn claimed three wickets and Jess Jonassen two as Durham slipped to 64-6 before recovering to 193.
This was Yorkshire’s third win of this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup, from nine matches, but the first achieved chasing a target. Previously, they had beaten The Blaze and Lancashire at Headingley and Emirates Old Trafford.
Thomas, soon to be 20, batted at three and shared a superb second-wicket partnership of 122 from 19-1 with captain Lauren Winfield-Hill. She impressed for 65.
In many ways, albeit in more watchful style, it was a repeat of last season’s Tier 2 final win over Glamorgan at Worcester when those two starred with half-centuries.
Fresh from her maiden Tier 1 fifty, Drax product Thomas beamed: “I’m buzzing. That was a brilliant win.
“Glenny has been injured, but she’s come back and has shown us what she can do. She was unbelievable. Jess, as well, she’s just class – so, so good.
“It was quite a slow wicket, which we saw from them batting first and losing a few wickets at the start. We had a decent plan, and we didn’t mind taking it quite deep. I’ve face loads of balls there, but it was just about getting the job done.
“I’m very proud of myself there.
“I’ve worked really hard to get into a position where I can show what I can do.
“It’s alright getting 20s and stuff, but contributing to winning matches is what I want to do. Hopefully there’s more to come.
“I’ve not done as well as I wanted to this season. I’ve had some decent starts, but today I tried to dig in and kick on. Batting with Loz helped me a lot.”
This win sets Yorkshire up ideally for Sunday’s Vitality County T20 Cup round three clash with Somerset at Scarborough.
They are next in One-Day Cup action against leaders The Blaze at Chesterfield on Tuesday.
