Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ines Blackwell on the drive against Middlesex.
Jess Woolston praised the debut of teenaged all-rounder Ines Blackwell after Yorkshire’s narrow Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeat to Middlesex at Headingley today.
The White Rose were beaten by seven runs, 185 all out in response to Middlesex’s 192-9 total.
Top-of-the-table Middlesex, who have won all five games so far, were 29-5 this morning before scrambling to what proved a winning total.
New-ball seamer Woolston claimed four of the first five to go and finished with 5-45.
Teenaged wicketkeeper-batter Poppy Sproul starred for the visitors with a measured unbeaten 98.
But Yorkshire can take heart from a performance of note from their own teenager, 16-year-old Academy starlet Blackwell, who took one wicket with her seamers and added 30 with the bat from the lower middle order.
“Credit to Ines, she just kept it in the spot,” said Blackwell.
“That’s what we needed from her in that situation.
“She was excellent today. I think sometimes being at Headingley, the nerves with the seniors, you can go into your shell a bit. But she just proved how good a player she is.
“Huge credit to her with the ball and bat.”
Despite Blackwell’s efforts, Woolston was Yorkshire’s standout performer with five wickets and a tail-end 22, which got the hosts within touching distance of their target from 172-9.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Woolston, reflecting on the start to the game as she bowled two Middlesex batters, trapped another lbw and one caught behind.
“Obviously I was gutted to miss out on the final last weekend. For me, it was an opportunity to come back.
“I’m really chuffed that the things I’ve been working on with Rich and a couple of the other girls, like Langers, has paid off today.
“It’s exciting for the next few games that we have coming up.”
In terms of where the game got away from Yorkshire, Woolston said: “We maybe gave them a couple too many runs with the ball. Myself, just maybe I should have kept the stumps in play a little bit more.
“Then, with the bat as well, we lost wickets in clusters.
“But we can learn from that going into next weekend’s game (against Glamorgan at Weetwood).”
Despite the frustration, Woolston wasn’t too downbeat.
“Where we had them at the start, it was incredible, coming back from the final from last weekend,” she added.
“We have to take this as a strict lesson.
“We can win games of cricket, and sometimes I think we’re better with a bit of pressure as well – just a bit more drive. I’m looking forward to the next few games. I think it’ll be really exciting.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jess Woolston praised Ines Blackwell’s all-round display at Headingley today.
