Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ben Cliff and his Yorkshire team-mates are all smiles amidst their stunning start with the ball this morning.
Ben Cliff believes today’s commanding opening day victory over last year’s semi-finalists Warwickshire has set Yorkshire up ideally for a crack at silverware.
The five-wicket quick starred to help bowl the Bears out for 137, wrecking their top order.
Yorkshire had their visitors 38-7 before Vansh Jani hit a superb 82 to recover things.
This was Cliff’s first game since the 22-year-old injured his side in the opening week of the summer down at Hampshire.
He was helped out by seamer Jack White early on, his new-ball partner returning 1-21 from 10 overs. Cliff returned 5-46 from 8.3 – a first-team best haul across all formats.
Matthew Revis and George Hill also struck twice apiece with the ball before Imam-Ul-Haq’s 55 settled a chase which fell to 72-4, still 66 to win at that stage.
“With my return (from injury), it feels like it’s been a long time coming,” said Cliff. “I’m just happy to be back out there, and a win on the board’s even better.
“We talk about hitting that length at Scarborough – a touch fuller – and I think I did a decent job of it.
“It’s the best time to bowl at Scarborough in the morning, and we’ve shown that.
“When Jack White isn’t going anywhere at the other end, it just makes your job easier. Credit to him. I’m sure if there were assists on the scorecard, there would be a few for him.
“We could have had them out for a few less. Their lad (Vansh Jani) played very well at the end, but we managed to get a very comfortable win in the end.”
As for the chase, he smiled: “I went on a few laps with Jack White and we lost two wickets in an over, Wharts and Rev. Jack said, ‘We’re going to have to get our pads on’. I said, ‘Just calm down, we’ll be fine’.
“You talk about creating a stable platform, and Imam has done exactly that. He’s a quality player, and we’re very lucky to have him.”
Yorkshire now travel to Northamptonshire on Friday looking to build on their winning start, and Cliff added: “We’re very confident, as we should be. It’s a great start against a decent Bears side. Hopefully we can keep on winning.
“Last season, in this comp, we won one and lost one throughout the whole of it.
“You want to be consistent, and that will be the biggest thing we talk about.”
