Ottis Gibson cut a frustrated figure after seeing his Yorkshire side fall narrowly short of a thrilling victory over Essex, but the county’s coach has urged his players to repeat what they did well this week despite defeat.
“Steve Patterson bowled fantastic,” said the Bajan, who had just witnessed his former captain take a brilliant 5-46 in a tigerish defence of a 162 target during the second half of day three at Headingley.
“Over the course of his career, he would have been in similar situations to that. He knew how to call on his experience, and he did a fantastic job.
“I hope he and Coady with the job that they did were a lesson to the youngsters in the team.
“We saw the way the fielders backed them up, chasing hard in the field and so on, that’s the spirit I want us to play with – not just in a short run chase, but in every game of cricket we play.
“Coady gave us a real lifeline this morning with that innings. We felt anything above 150, we were really in the game – as it nearly proved.
“It’s frustrating to have lost, but I like the way the guys fought. We never gave it up at any stage.”
Yorkshire showed their mettle today as they reduced Essex to 161-9, and their three-point haul from a fourth defeat of the LV= Insurance County Championship campaign felt unjust.
“Not just today, we showed a lot over the three days,” said Gibson.
“On the first day, in the conditions we had to bat in, the ball was doing a lot under lights. But I still felt we could have found a way to get a few more runs (than 134).
“Then we had them 85-5 or 6 in their first innings and Snater came and played positively like he did today.
“Those are the lessons I want us to learn.
“If you go in as a batter and the wicket’s doing a bit and you think there’s one with your name on it, you have to make a choice. ‘Am I going to defend, knowing I might nick one, or am I going to be a bit more positive?’”
George Hill bowled Ben Allison with a no ball with Essex on 121-7 after tea, and Gibson added: “The intensity and pressure of the game, these things happen.
“When it happens to you, it’s just unfortunate. But it’s never something you will point a finger for.”
