Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire head coach Richard Pyrah saw the positives in today’s County Cup defeat at Weetwood.
Rich Pyrah believes Yorkshire’s women learned a valuable lesson as they were beaten by 10 wickets against Warwickshire Bears in today’s Vitality County T20 Cup quarter-final at Weetwood.
The White Rose were bowled out for 138 before the Bears achieved their target inside 16 overs, thus qualifying for Monday’s Finals Day at Taunton alongside The Blaze, Lancashire and Surrey. Their semi-final opponents will be Surrey.
Yorkshire lost for the first time in seven matches in all competitions.
Head coach Pyrah said: “We weren’t at our best today.
“It just highlights that for us to compete with Tier 1 teams, we’ve got to be on it every ball. We’ve got to be at the top of our game.
“It was a nice little reminder to the girls of, ‘Yes, we’ve done well up to this period, but we’ve still got a lot to do’.”
Opener Erin Thomas top-scored for Yorkshire with 39, while Maddie Ward made 21 – she later split the webbing on her hand whilst bowling – and Beth Langston a late 28.
Unfortunately, though, Abbey Freeborn and Davina Perrin usurped those contributions with 78 not out off 47 balls and an unbeaten 58 off 44 respectively for the visitors.
Pyrah continued: “It was just one of those games where we kept losing wickets at vital times.
“We started building a partnership, we’d lose a wicket and have to rebuild again. It was a bit gloomy when we batted, but it was a good pitch and fast-scoring outfield. So we were 50 runs short on there.”
Yorkshire’s standout contribution came from Erin Thomas, who has had a good week.
A feature of the England Under 19s opener’s summer so far has been that she has looked in good order in making starts but hasn’t been able to go on.
However, on Wednesday she scored 73 in a T20 friendly against The Blaze’s second team at Grantham before adding her 39 against the Bears today.
“We know the ability that Erin’s got,” said Pyrah. “She strikes the ball as well as anyone I’ve worked with in the women’s game. It’s just working out how to build an innings now, when to kick on and when to hold back. But she’s had a good week.”
Yorkshire won three matches out of four in their Vitality County T20 Cup run, beating Derbyshire from Tier 2, Staffordshire from Tier 3 and Essex Eagles from Tier 1.
They have had the experience of beating a Tier 1 side and also losing to one.
Pyrah added: “It’s been a good tournament for us. We’ve played some good cricket.
“We were on top of our game in all departments against Essex, and it showed that when we do that we can compete with and beat the Tier 1 counties.
“But we are very inexperienced, and if we’re not on it every ball and in all departments, we will fall short against Tier 1 teams. It’s been a really positive tournament for us. We’ve learnt a lot.
“We’ve put ourselves in situations where we’ve done well.
“This year was all about finding out, and it’s been a really good run for us in finding out where we’re at.”
Yorkshire start their Vitality Blast T20 campaign at home to Derbyshire Falcons at Headingley next Sunday (2.30pm).
