Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jafer Chohan, excellent in the Roses last night, is confident Yorkshire can go all the way in this season’s Vitality Blast.
Jafer Chohan believes a more front-foot, attacking approach to their cricket is behind Yorkshire’s superb start in this season’s Vitality Blast.
The White Rose have won four from five in the North Group and sit pretty at the top of the table, eight points clear of four teams from second to fifth in the table.
That may change this evening when Durham host Northamptonshire. But, whatever the result of that match in the North East, it has been a great start to the campaign and leg-spinner Chohan and co are very much on course for the quarter-finals.
Chohan claimed a superb 4-17 in last night’s hammering of Roses rivals Lancashire, by 106 runs defending a 214-target.
And they will aim to strengthen their grip on top spot tomorrow afternoon when they face Leicestershire Foxes at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Grace Road (2.30pm).
“We’ve changed our plans a bit from previous years, and it seems to be working really well,” said Chohan, as Yorkshire chase a maiden Blast title.
“We’re being a little bit more aggressive as a side.
“I think sometimes (in previous seasons) we’ve been a bit more defensive.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jonny Bairstow top-scored with 73 against Lancashire.
“But this year we thought, ‘OK, let’s play this more aggressive brand’.
“Whether it’s with the bat or the ball, we’re going to keep coming harder and harder. We’ve got Lythy and Jonny at the top. Lythy got 20 off seven last night, and for us that’s perfect.
“The amount of batting we’ve got, when you get off to a start like that, straightaway the other team’s on the back foot. Same with the ball. We have with Hassan and Moeen up front, and it’s like, ‘We’re going to be real aggressive and go after you’.
“We’re going to try and be ahead in the game and make them come after us.
“I think that’s been probably the biggest change this year.”
Yorkshire face a Leicestershire side who have won two, lost three so far. They are one of a clutch of teams on eight points who are chasing the White Rose.
They claimed an impressive four-wicket win over Sussex Sharks at Hove last night, chasing 180. Experienced Australian overseas batting all-rounder Ashton Turner anchored things with 57 not out having earlier struck twice with his off-spin in Sussex’s 179 all out.
Captained by all-rounder Ben Green, ex-Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Tattersall played for them at Hove, his first Blast appearance for the Foxes.
Picture by Tom Dulat/Getty Images. Ashton Turner at the crease for Leicestershire against Sussex at Hove last night.
New Zealand batter Nick Kelly is their other overseas player.
Chohan, aged 23, said: “I think we’ve all just been pushing each other so much.
“When you’ve got that experience and depth of international quality, it helps a lot.
“It’d be hard to say that we’re not getting excited, especially with how the last few years have been. We’ve put a big emphasis on making sure we really push for this T20 competition.
“We want to just show everyone around the country how good a team we are.
“We want to keep pushing, but it’s also about keeping our heads down. It’s not done yet. We want to make sure not only do we get to a quarter-final, we want a home one.
“With these competitions like this, it’s about peaking at the right time as well. You don’t want to win all your games now and then fade off.
“We know Leicestershire are a good team, especially at home. Hopefully, if we can get another win and be five out of six, it would be a great first half.”
