Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Whilst happy with Yorkshire’s start to the season, Lauren Winfield-Hill is targeting more.
Captain Lauren Winfield-Hill believes there is more to come from Yorkshire this season as they look to build on an already impressive start to the summer.
The White Rose women have won six of eight matches so far in 2025, across both the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the Vitality County T20 Cup.
They have triumphed in three games out of four in each competition, including beating Tier 1 county Essex Eagles in the latter – a team Winfield-Hill has linked up with for a loan spell.
Yorkshire’s bright start to the season has set them up ideally for the beginning of the Tier 2 Vitality Blast this weekend, with Yorkshire hosting Derbyshire Falcons in their opener at Headingley on Sunday.
“We’re really pleased with where we’re at,” said Winfield-Hill. “I think we’ve performed well.
“But I still think there’s so much more in the tank, especially with the ball and in the field. We know we can still get better. But that’s the exciting bit, isn’t it?”
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Yorkshire’s women head into the Vitality Blast with six wins from eight matches across 50-over and T20 cricket this summer.
Yorkshire bounced back from an opening day 50-over defeat to Worcestershire at Headingley last month to win three games on the trot in that Metro Bank competition.
Their highlight was a record-breaking 315-run win over Sunday’s opponents Derbyshire at the County Ground last month, in which they racked up a total of 381-6 and bowled their hosts out for 66.
The total is a List A record for the county, while it is also the highest total recorded by any professional side in English domestic cricket, dating back to the start of the regional era in 2020.
They also beat Essex to qualify for the quarter-finals of the inter-tier County T20 Cup knockout competition, which was won by Lancashire on Monday.
Unfortunately, Yorkshire missed out on Finals Day having been beaten by 10 wickets against Warwickshire Bears at Weetwood on Saturday, the visitors chasing down a 139-target with ease.
Yorkshire were short of their best in all departments in that game.
Picture by John Heald. Ami Campbell hit a stunning 165 not out against Derbyshire in 50-over cricket last month.
“We’re winning games at about 70 percent,” said Winfield-Hill. “So we’re not in a bad spot.
“We’ve got a few things like Key Performance Indicators and stuff that we talk about. We can tick a few more of those off, no doubt.
“But our team’s going to look different throughout as well. There’s lots of opportunities ahead for a lot of the girls.”
Wicketkeeper-opener Winfield-Hill is Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer this summer with 324 runs from eight matches, including two fifties. She has also claimed four dismissals behind the stumps.
Impressive off-spinner Claudie Cooper, meanwhile, has been Yorkshire’s leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets from eight outings.
The standout individual performance so far has come from the bat of Ami Campbell, who hit a stunning 165 not out off 105 balls in that aforementioned Derbyshire win. She hit 17 fours and seven sixes in a memorable blitz.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com. Claudie Cooper has taken 14 wickets from eight matches in 2025.
Like she did with Cooper, Winfield-Hill recommended that Yorkshire sign left-handed Campbell, who turns 34 next week.
“For Ami, she’s been in and out of the domestic structure and played a bit,” said the skipper. “She’s done drinks a bit with Central Sparks.
“I think she’s benefiting from understanding the art of batting – when to go and how many balls to give herself.
“She’s done a lot of work with the coaches. I think it’s her mindset and her mentality. She’s a lot calmer at the crease, and I think she feels really backed in this environment.
“Her numbers weren’t great in domestic cricket, but I was like, ‘Look, she’ll be fine, just trust me.
“I’m quite glad I’ve not ended up completely cutting my legs off when it’s not worked out!
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire Women’s head coach Rich Pyrah.
“She’s always had the potential, and I’m glad we’re seeing a lot of really exciting substance. It’s stuff that not many people can do. Some of those sixes she’s been hitting are huge.
“Claudie as well, she’s been brilliant for us.
“It just shows. You get some good players in and some good people behind them who give them enough of an opportunity – like Rich has – and the cream rises to the top.”
Winfield-Hill now heads to Essex to get some Tier 1 cricket under her belt in preparation for the Hundred in August, when she will play for the Oval Invincibles. Her availability for Yorkshire through the Blast will be limited, but she says she has loved her first half a season as the county’s captain.
“I’m so happy with my decision to stay here,” she added. “I love the club, I love the girls, and I think we’ve got a great group of people. We’ve got amazing staff, the set-up’s been awesome, and I think we’re getting better every week.
“That’s exactly what you want.”
