Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Fin Bean signs autographs for a young fan after yesterday’s win over Durham at Scarborough.
Yorkshire set off on a four-day southern road trip this morning which will give them a clear idea of their route through to what they hope will be an appearance in late September’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final.
The White Rose yesterday moved a significant step closer to the county’s first piece of limited overs silverware since 2002 with a landslide win over Durham at Scarborough, by 212 runs.
It was their fifth win in six Group B matches, strengthening their position at its summit and leaving them with one foot in the knockouts.
Yorkshire face Sussex Sharks at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove tomorrow, 11am start, before travelling to Canterbury to face Kent Spitfires on Tuesday.
There is every chance that Yorkshire’s current 20-point haul, coupled with an overwhelmingly strong net run-rate of plus 2.236, would see them through to the quarter-finals even if things don’t go well between now and Tuesday evening.
However, that’s absolutely not part of the plan.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Fin Bean celebrates his record-breaking 53-ball century yesterday.
Yorkshire want to qualify directly for a home semi-final next Sunday, something they would achieve by finishing top of the group. To do that, one more win will almost certainly be enough. It would take a gigantic net run-rate swing for it not to be.
Fin Bean, hero of yesterday’s win over Durham with a stunning 102 not out off 57 balls, said: “Dom Bess has spoken about us being ruthless, and we just have to keep performing.
“There’s some good teams on show, and we seem to be hammering them.
“So it’s like, ‘Don’t take our foot off the gas and just keep doing what we’re doing’.”
Not that it needs much building in Yorkshire’s case, but a little road trip can often be useful for strengthening a team’s bond given they get to spend a significant amount of time together.
“It’ll be good,” said Bean. “It’ll be nice to spend a bit of time on the road and for everyone to enjoy each other’s company. But we’re in a good place.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jack White impressed again with the ball, claiming 3-24 in victory over Durham. He now has seven wickets to his name.
“With us being on the bus again (today), play next day, then travel again and play again, it’s hectic. But you can get on a roll. When you’re doing well, you want to keep playing.”
Bean’s ton yesterday was his seventh in all first-team cricket but his first against the white ball.
It was a strong contender for Yorkshire’s best individual innings of the entire season across all formats.
But was it the Studley Royal product’s favourite innings of his career so far?
“I don’t know, really,” he said.
“I quite like my red-ball knocks because it feels like you’re putting together an innings.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. James Wharton hit a List A career best 84 yesterday.
“I kind of went out there, cleared the leg and see what happens.
“I think my double hundred this year (224 against Nottinghamshire in the Championship) was probably my favourite, just in the context of the season.
“I was obviously struggling. I think I was averaging 10 for the first seven games, so that was probably massive just to settle me down for the year and give me a bit more confidence.
“This was pleasing because when I’ve played school cricket I’ve done stuff like that. But it’s a different kettle of fish with this standard, and I’ve never really shown anyone I can do it.”
Yorkshire face a Sussex side who remain in contention for a top-three finish but must realistically win both of their remaining games, finishing against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Below Yorkshire are Somerset, Warwickshire and Middlesex all on 16 points.
Picture by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images. Wicketkeeper-batter John Simpson in action for Sussex against Somerset on Thursday.
Sussex then have 12 points having won three and lost three so far.
They were beaten by Somerset at Hove on Thursday by 90 runs, bowled out for 153 chasing 244.
They are captained by experienced wicketkeeper-batter John Simpson.
Top-order batter Tom Clark has been their standout run-scorer with 254, while fast bowler Henry Crocombe has impressed with 10 wickets.
