Dom Bess believes one of tomorrow’s opponents provides the blueprint Yorkshire’s batters should look to follow in order to progress their 50-over games.
The Vikings travel to Rugby School to face pacesetters Warwickshire in their penultimate Metro Bank One-Day Cup Group B fixture, starting at 11am.
Yorkshire have endured a frustrating campaign so far, winning three and losing three of their six games. It means they must win their final two games if they are to have any chance of qualifying, and even that may not be enough.
Glamorgan, level on 11 points with Warwickshire at the top of the table, represents the final fixture at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Unfortunately for Yorkshire, they have been the model of inconsistency throughout this campaign. They have won one, lost one, won one, lost one, won one, lost one to leave themselves with a mountain to climb to reach the top three for knockout cricket.
“I don’t think we should be looking at that now, to be honest,” said all-rounder Bess.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Dom Bess has hit two fifties in Yorkshire’s last two games.
“We’re playing the two top teams, and my challenge to our group is, ‘There’s a reason why they’re at the top, and can we disrupt them?’
“If that allows us to qualify, then it happens.
“But it’s really important now, going away from home, to really turn up.
“We’ve talked about our plans, and now it’s about executing.”
Though off colour against Leicestershire at Scarborough on Thursday, when defending a revised target of 150 in 22 overs, they have largely been good with the ball through this competition.
But their batting has often let them down. Their top score in the competition so far is the 261 all out they made in victory over Sussex at York late last month.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Captain Shan Masood has departed for Pakistan duty.
And while batting hasn’t been straightforwards on out-ground pitches, a number of players have got in and haven’t been able to go on.
Their top-score in the competition so far is the excellent 83 Will Luxton posted in the opening day win over Surrey at the Kia Oval last month.
In fact, Bess is right when he said: “We haven’t had a hundred now for two years, I don’t think.”
Harry Duke, Will Fraine and George Hill all scored a century apiece in 2022, but there wasn’t one last year and there hasn’t been one so far this campaign.
“One example I’ve looked at is Ed Barnard at Warwickshire,” continued Bess. “When he’s gone and got hundreds, he’s gone and got massive hundreds – 150s and 170s, and they’ve cruised game.
“Being brutally honest, that’s where we’ve missed out.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Jonny Tattersall could make his first appearance at Rugby.
“We’ve shown we have the ability to have fireworks at the back end. It’s just about understanding how to set up the game.”
Bears opener Barnard has scored four One-Day Cup centuries since last August; 161, 100, 173 not out and 152 not out.
Bess himself has impressed with the bat in the last couple of games, contributing 53 not out in Tuesday’s win over Essex at Scarborough and then 60 in Thursday’s Leicestershire defeat. Both were career best scores for the 27-year-old.
The former Somerset man has worked hard on his batting this winter in a bid to make himself a more valuable asset alongside his off-spin bowling.
“If you look at this winter, I went and played (domestic cricket) in Zimbabwe and averaged 50,” he said. “So I’ve got it there.
“Ultimately, it’s getting the opportunity. Unfortunately, I’ve had the opportunity in the last two games through us losing wickets and me batting at eight.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Dom Bess celebrates his half-century against Leicestershire on Thursday as Matthew Revis congratulates him.
“I’d love to push up the order, and if I keep scoring runs then it only speaks for itself.
“I’m 27, and I’d like to think I can go and get hundreds. Ultimately, that’s what I want to do – score as many runs as I can for the team.”
When Bess travelled to Zimbabwe in the winter, he played for the Southern Rocks side and batted at three for them. Tomorrow, it’s not impossible that he could do the same for the Vikings given captain Shan Masood is unavailable having returned to Pakistan for a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Jonny Tattersall is in line to replace Masood in the Yorkshire team.
Bess added: “That’s up to the coach and where they see it, but I’d love to bat in the top six and show that I can score a lot of runs.
“Batting at eight, unless you’re in in the 15th over or so, you don’t get time to score hundreds. If that’s an opportunity given to me, then I’d like to take it.”
Warwickshire had to settle for a No Result in their last game – against Glamorgan at Edgbaston on Thursday. Captain Barnard is their leading run-scorer this campaign with 347 and also their leading wicket-taker having struck 13 times with his seamers. He is the competition’s second leading run-scorer and wicket-taker.
