Adam Lyth has reflected on a mixed opening day of Yorkshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at the Kia Oval.
Yorkshire’s bowlers started off like a house on fire, reducing Surrey to 69-4 and 162-6 either side of lunch.
But, unfortunately, the hosts hit back through Ollie Pope’s superb unbeaten 131 to close the day ahead on 366-7 from 92.3 overs.
Rikki Clarke added a belligerent 71, sharing 129 for the seventh wicket with Pope, and South Africa Test overseas Dean Elgar 61.
Watch highlights from Day 1.
“The first two sessions were fantastic for us, and then it was indifferent in the last,” said opening batsman Lyth.
“The young lad Ollie played well, so hats off to him. But we’ll come back tomorrow, and hopefully we can wrap it up and get batting.
“On the whole, the lads bowled well. But that last 25 overs, we didn’t get it right.
“We had a missed stumping and a couple of dropped catches, which happens, and it could have been totally different.
“Rikki is experienced and is a fantastic player. We didn’t quite get it right. We dropped him quite early.
“I wouldn’t say we’re behind the eight-ball here, but we will have to bat well. It’s turned into a good pitch, and I think it will get better as the game goes on.”
Lyth admitted it was a surprise to see as much grass on the Oval pitch this morning, but he said: “It hasn’t really done masses, but it’s done enough. It didn’t do as much as Chelmsford last week. There’s a bit of carry.
“There was a short boundary on one side, and you get value for shots. It’s turned into a good pitch.”
