Yorkshire’s batting coach Paul Grayson says the plan is to copy Lancashire’s lead from last week as they bid to complete victory over Sussex at Emerald Headingley during the next couple of days.
The White Rose are in control of their latest LV= Insurance County Championship fixture at 272-2 in reply to Sussex’s 313. The deficit is only 41 at the halfway mark in the game.
Grayson hailed the “calmness, experience and quality” of linchpin duo Dawid Malan and Gary Ballance as they shared an unbroken 177 for the third wicket.
Malan was 103 not out at close and Ballance 74. The former reached his century in the day’s final over.
Yorkshire were beaten by Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford by an innings and 79 last week. Bowled out for 159, the White Rose saw the Red reply with 509-9 declared, leading by 350.
Grayson said: “The plan is to do to them what Lancashire did to us.
“Hopefully these two (Malan and Ballance) are still there at 12 o’clock tomorrow and we can wear them down. We have ball strikers to come in Brooky, Tommo and Dave Willey. Hopefully we can cash in.
“They are a pretty inexperienced attack with unavailability and a few injuries, and we just need to make the most of it with a good forecast and plenty of batting to come.”
Grayson went on: “Firstly we’ve got to say, ‘well done’ to our bowlers for getting the five wickets as quickly as they did on a pretty flat wicket.
“It’s not very often this year we’ve been in a strong position with the bat. Hopefully we can make the most of that tomorrow and post a big first-innings score.
“Dawid’s been away for a while playing a lot of white ball cricket. He’s a little bit undercooked. But we’re very lucky that him and Gary are back in the side. They are two class players.
“We knew we were inexperienced at Old Trafford last week against a very good side, and they just bring a bit of calmness, experience and quality. That helps the younger lads as well.
“This is how we want to play, but sometimes you haven’t got the personnel around.
“It’s not easy when you have younger lads coming in and out the side. Frainey has come in for the odd game and drops back out, George Hill last week.
“But when you have experience around like that, it just gives the group a bit of confidence and calmness.”
