Steve Patterson believes Yorkshire must improve with ball as well as bat if they are to win their penultimate round LV= Insurance County Championship match with Warwickshire at Emerald Headingley.
Patterson claimed four wickets on the opening day, including the 450th of his first-class career: “I didn’t realise to be honest,” he smiled.
Ben Coad also struck four times as the Bears, inserted, were bowled out for 155 during the afternoon.
Unfortunately, new ball duo Chris Woakes and Liam Norwell claimed three apiece to drag Warwickshire right back into contention. In fact, with Yorkshire at 95-8 at close, they are ahead.
“I thought we did a decent job with the ball,” said Patterson.
“We certainly didn’t bowl as well as we did in the last couple of weeks discipline wise. But we bowled enough wicket-taking deliveries.
“We were happy with that score, but we haven’t played well enough with the bat. We are a bit behind where we want to be.
“It’s not a 95-8 pitch or a 150 all out pitch. There’s something there for the seamers. The odd one is bouncing and seaming. But if you are prepared to bat time, you can get some value.
“I don’t think either team has batted particularly well.
“Obviously, we’d like as many runs as we can get. But we are 60 behind. If we can get within 25 or 30, it makes it almost a one-innings game.
“We have Gary (Ballance, on 51) there, who is one of the best players in the country. If we can keep him there for an hour tomorrow, it gives us a chance to creep up to them.
“Gary said that he feels the pitch has quickened up as the day’s gone on. Maybe that’s their bowlers, who knows. There’s still plenty in the pitch.
“We have to come back in the morning and get as close to their score as possible, it becomes a one-innings game.
“The third innings is always tough to know how to pace it – do you attack or go defensively? Our job is to bowl better than we did today.
“It looks highly likely there is going to be a result, which is what both teams want. It’s just about playing well over the next couple of days, whatever it takes, and coming out on the right side of that.”
On his own performance, Patterson added: “It’s just nice after no wickets at Scarborough and Hampshire, personally, to contribute again.
“I’ve always said that being in the team as a captain, you want to be in the team first and foremost for your cricket.
“It’s about performing, and I feel like I’ve not pulled my weight in the last couple of games.”
