Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Claudie Cooper spoke after today’s defeat at Chesterfield.
Claudie Cooper reflected on a “tough” day at the office as Yorkshire were beaten by The Blaze at Chesterfield today.
The White Rose’s sixth Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeat of the season came by four wickets at the hands of the competition’s pacesetters, whose chase of 151 was achieved with room to spare but not completely straightforwards.
Yorkshire fought hard with the ball. The Blaze were 93-4, for example, but opener and captain Marie Kelly’s excellent 66 was key to a win achieved inside 31st overs.
Sarah Glenn top-scored for Yorkshire with 30, while impressive Beth Langston claimed three wickets and affected a direct-hit run out from mid-off.
Yorkshire’s off-spinner Cooper said: “It was tough. Obviously, we didn’t get enough runs on the board. It was always going to be hard in the field, but I think people bowled well.
“It was just one of those days where it just didn’t come off with the bat.
“Coming out of the field, what we wanted to do was park the batting effort and just give it our best. And I think we had decent energy.
“We knew we were going to have to take wickets, but they just didn’t come often enough for us.”
As disappointing as Yorkshire were with the bat – only Glenn made it to 30 – the way they performed with the ball added respectability to things.
Teenager Ines Blackwell continues to impress. She was bright at the crease for 17, including pulling her first ball for six, and also struck once with her medium pacers.
Cooper added: “That’s what we pride ourselves on – that we’re never going to give up. even if we’re in a sticky situation.
“It was tough to defend that score, but Beth’s bowled really well in the powerplay and Ines backed that up.
“And I was quite proud of my bowling as well, coming in at the end with not too much to work with, I could have lost my head a little bit. But I tried to stay as calm as possible.
“They are a good side, but we beat them earlier in the season and we’ve been close in all of our games.
“All we want to do is prove to people that we do deserve to be here, and I think we’re doing that.
“It’s just righting those wrongs, and we will definitely get there.”