Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rich Pyrah remains focused on the long-term at Headingley.
Rich Pyrah says Finals Day cricket in the Vitality Blast is not yet something which is at the forefront of his mind, Yorkshire’s head coach more keen to concentrate on a relentless drive for his players to progress.
The White Rose county’s women could seal their place at Wantage Road on July 26 with a win against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Peterborough Town CC tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm).
They have won four from four in the Tier 2 T20 competition so far – all with a bonus point – and sit on 20 points, 11 clear of Leicestershire, who are the closest challengers in second place in the group having beaten Northamptonshire last night.
That has given Yorkshire, who beat Worcestershire Rapids at Headingley yesterday afternoon, the opportunity to lock in a Finals Day berth in double-quick time.
That would be achieved, with three games remaining, should Yorkshire win tomorrow and Derbyshire, who host Worcestershire at Chesterfield today, lose.
Pyrah, however, wants to keep his eyes firmly fixed on the bigger picture, which is preparing for the club’s elevation to Tier 1 status ahead of next summer. That’s a view he has not deviated away from since starting his role last September.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Opener Georgie Boyce has impressed during her loan spell with Yorkshire, from The Blaze. She has posted 42, 46, 23 and 17.
“I’m not even looking at it, to be honest,” he said. “Like I said at the start of the year, it’s nice that we’re winning and do well. But the improvement is the most important.
“It would be great to go to Finals Day, of course it would. But it’s just about pushing the girls and not taking our foot off the gas if we are winning because we still have a lot of improving to do.”
That Yorkshire have won each of their Blast games with a bonus point on top of the straight four for a victory – achieved with a scoring rate 1.25 times better than that of your opponent – shows that they are winning their games with significant comfort.
Yesterday, they beat the Rapids by seven wickets in 15.1 overs chasing 105.
Claudie Cooper, Ria Fackrell and Rachel Slater all struck twice with the ball, Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scored with 33 in reply.
“We speak after every game, and we’ve got some targets that we’re setting ourselves in games this year, knowing that whilst we’re in Tier 2 we might win games and not necessarily play well,” said Pyrah.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Four games as captain in the Blast, four wins for Maddie Ward.
“It’s about setting standards and trying to hit them in games.
“We know that if we don’t perform well in those areas next year, it’s going to make it difficult in Tier 1.
“We have a Key Performance Index with things like how many runs we score in the powerplay, how many scoring shots we have throughout the innings. We also have a good target for game-changers, things that we can control in the fielding innings, no balls and byes, things like that.
“We’ve seen a big improvement in that throughout the season so far, and when we do hit these targets we seem to do pretty well.”
Northamptonshire have won two and lost two so far from their four games.
They failed to chase down 154 against Leicestershire at Grace Road last night, bowled out for just 85 in reply to 153-6.
Coached by David Ripley, the county’s former men’s head coach, they are captained by opening batter Gemma Marriott.
