Steve Patterson did not hide his disappointment at Yorkshire’s performance in this weekend’s draw against Glamorgan, but the captain was happy to have at least ended it on a high note.
Glamorgan had much the better of this opening round LV= Insurance County Championship draw at Emerald Headingley.
After setting a victory target of 379 at noon during today’s fourth day, they quickly reduced Yorkshire to 47-3, including the cheap loss of England Test captain Joe Root.
But opening batsman Adam Lyth hit his 25th first-class hundred, a superb 115 not out, to steer the White Rose to safety at 223-4 when the players ‘shook hands’ at 5.15pm.
It means the White Rose claimed 11 points to Glamorgan’s 14.
“If you look back to lunchtime on day three before it snowed, we were in a very poor position (Glamorgan were 161-4, leading by 298 with five sessions remaining),” said skipper Patterson.
“So to come out of it with a draw is a nice positive note to end the week.
“But, looking back, it’s been disappointing. We’ve played some poor cricket compared to what we know we’re capable of.
“You add the fact we’ve lost two bowlers in Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher to injuries of varying severity, it’s been a tough week.
“So to come out with 11 points and a draw, I suppose that’s a positive as I say.”
On the pectoral and abdominal injuries sustained by new ball pair Coad and Fisher, Patterson said: “From what we gather, Matthew’s isn’t an overly serious injury. It’s more about protecting him and looking at the bigger picture.
“Ben’s, I don’t think is horrendous. But I certainly think he will be out longer than Matthew.”
The pair will miss Thursday’s trip to face Kent at Canterbury, with a clearer return date determined by further assessment to the injuries over the next few days.
Lyth posted only his second Championship hundred since the end of 2018.
He shared 131 for the fourth wicket with Harry Brook (60) after Yorkshire had slipped to 47-3 just after lunch. In the first innings, Lyth also top-scored with 52.
“Personally, it’s been a fantastic game for me,” said Lyth, who hit two fifties in the final pre-season friendly against Durham MCC Universities.
“I was disappointed that I didn’t go on in the first innings, but that ball from Dan Douthwaite would have got me out eight or nine times out of 10.
“The way I’ve played in the Durham University friendly and in this game, I’m absolutely thrilled.
“Hopefully there’s many more fifties and hundreds to come.
“I haven’t set too many goals, but what I do want to do is be ruthless when I get in and make big scores. Over the last couple of seasons, I haven’t done that as much I would have liked.
“It’s a fantastic start for me, and hopefully I can kick on.”
On today’s play, he added: “It was a good pitch, but there’s always a bit of seam at Headingley.
“We lost a few early wickets, but the way myself and Harry Brook played was very pleasing to see.”
