Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ria Fackrell is in excellent form with ball and bat.
Rich Pyrah is enjoying watching his players play under pressure, and Yorkshire’s head coach will get another opportunity this weekend when they face Gloucestershire in a key clash with semi-final cricket in mind in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Pyrah has stressed since he first took on the role last September that results are not the primary focus for 2025. In his mind, progression is the priority rather than points.
However, try telling the players that. Once they cross that boundary rope at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol on Saturday – 10.30am – they will be going all out for the victory.
Yorkshire currently sit fourth in the table with three wins from six games. With three games remaining, they have 15 points to their name.
Realistically, it looks likely the top three teams – Middlesex 28 points, Glamorgan 24 and Northamptonshire 24 – are now out of reach with only 15 more points to play for. So holding onto fourth is the target.
Behind them, Worcestershire are fifth on 15 points and Sussex and Gloucestershire in sixth and seventh place have 13 apiece.
“Look, it’s great that we’re playing under pressure,” said Pyrah.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rich Pyrah is prioritising progression over prizes this summer.
“We’re playing under pressure in terms of positioning in the table to get into that top four. But, honestly, I don’t really look at that.
“What I’m looking at is players playing under pressure when senior players aren’t there. It’s about the young players standing up and those senior players who are still here taking on responsibility. If they stand up, results will take care of themselves.
“Naturally, playing for Yorkshire and us going to Tier 1 next year, there’s pressure on us in every game.”
Unfortunately, Yorkshire have fallen short with the bat in their last two games, which have resulted in home defeats to the competition’s leading pair, Middlesex and Glamorgan, on each of the last two Saturdays.
Against Middlesex at Headingley, they were bowled out for 185 chasing 193. Against Glamorgan at Weetwood, they were bowled out for 172 batting first. Only one White Rose batter has topped 30 in each game.
“There are a couple of players who have played senior cricket for a couple of years now, and Ami (Campbell) has played for 10 or more,” added the coach.
“These are the times where you need a little bit of seniority to stand up.”
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Ria Fackrell top-scored with 36 not out and took three wickets against Glamorgan last Saturday.
All-rounder Ria Fackrell has contributed significantly over the last couple of games, posting scores of 22 and 36 and taking three wickets with her off-spin in the latter game, against Glamorgan.
She said: “Coming off two losses, that’s put more fight into us now.
“We know we need to improve, and where we need to improve, and we know what’s at stake going into this next game.
“We have shown we have it in us. The lower order got some valuable runs at the end on Saturday, Claudie (Cooper) and Hannah (Rainey). We do bat all the way down from one to 11. But we just need to take that extra step.”
After a quiet April, Fackrell has been excellent since then, contributing with both bat and ball. She scored a 50-over friendly century against Scotland in mid-June and was the leading wicket-taker in the Tier 2 Vitality Blast competition with 16.
She has taken 32 wickets in all cricket this summer.
“I’ve really dug in, and I think that’s come a lot from the players and staff around me,” reasoned the 25-year-old.“They’ve given me the confidence on and off the field to back up my skills, whether that be with the bat or the ball.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Seamer Hannah Rainey bowls on debut against Glamorgan at Weetwood on Saturday.
“It’s a big team sport, cricket, and I think bowling in partnerships has helped me as well.
“Simplicity is the thing for me. Confidence comes with simplicity.
“I know my best ball, I know what my variations are, and I don’t really need to change that. If a batter hits a good ball, they hit a good ball.
“And from a batting point of view, if I start over-thinking things that’s when I get in trouble.”
While fourth-placed Yorkshire have won three and lost three, Gloucestershire have done the same.
They beat Worcestershire at home last time out on Saturday, successfully defending a 292-target.
They’re captained by all-rounder Liv Daniels and coached by Lauren Rowles.
