Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. On the wrong side of the result? Yes. But pleased with many aspects of the performance? Certainly. Rich Pyrah spoke to yorkshireccc.com after today’s clash with Somerset.
Head coach Rich Pyrah said there were plenty of positives to take from Yorkshire’s performance after they lost by the barest of margins in their first Tier 1 game at Somerset today.
A thrilling Metro Bank One-Day Cup game saw the White Rose bowled out for 178.
But a superb bowling display reduced the Taunton outfit to 115-8, only for a captain’s knock from Sophie Luff, who hit an unbeaten 76, to get them home by one wicket.
“What a way to start the season in Tier 1,” said Pyrah.
“We lost wickets at crucial times, and on a good pitch I thought we were way short. But, in the second half of the game, the attitude we showed and the skill with the ball to get us back into it was outstanding.
“We dropped a couple of catches, and at this level if you drop catches like that it costs you.
“So, although it’s disappointing, it does give some of the girls who’ve never played at this level before a lot of belief that we can compete with teams who have been playing together for a long time.
“There are lots and lots of positives.”
The key part of the batting display saw Yorkshire lose the wickets of Jess Jonassen, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Sterre Kalis in quick succession, putting the innings on the back foot after a good start.
“With three of our experienced batters out, that’s where we really fell down,” said Pyrah. “But it’s a step up for most of the players, and everyone who played today who had not played at this level before has shown signs that they can do it.
“That’s the bigger picture – where we’re at and where we’ve come from. We’ve shown some good signs today.
“What I’ve been talking about is developing players and making players better.
“With Rachel Slater batting at nine and Claudie Cooper batting at 10, we’ve worked really hard with them, and they scored crucial runs down the order to give us a total we could defend.
“It’s really pleasing they’ve shown that the work put in during the winter has paid off.”
To not get over the line and to lose such a close game was frustrating. But even that can be used as a positive, added Pyrah.
“We are where we are,” he said. “We played Tier 2 last year, and we have a lot of young players in the side.
“Somerset have Heather Knight, one of the best batters in the world, and Dani Gibson, one of the most destructive players in the word. So, it was an outstanding effort with the ball to give us a fighting chance.
“We just have to make sure we keep developing and keep learning and take those chances when they come.
“But, overall, there are a lot of positives from our first game in Tier 1.”
