Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rich Pyrah congratulates Jess Jonassen on her century at the end of today’s game against Durham.
Rich Pyrah praised the character of his players after securing the two points for a tie against Durham today but pointed to areas for improvement.
Yorkshire were bowled out for 290 in pursuit of 291 in reply to Durham’s 290-8.
A sunny Scarborough game which saw centuries for Durham’s Phoebe Turner and Yorkshire’s Jess Jonassen also saw Ines Blackwell claim four wickets for the hosts.
Unfortunately, it also saw the White Rose let slip a handful of dropped catches added to losing four batters run out as the game hurtled towards the finish.
That included Rachel Slater run out by a direct hit from wicketkeeper Tahlia Wilson at the striker’s end as she tried to run a bye off the last ball to win the game.
“I think, again, it probably shows where we’re at,” said head coach Pyrah. “You know, you take out the dropped catches and the run outs and we should have won that game.
“But we’ve shown the skill in certain areas of the game, and we’ve shown a lot of character to take that to get a tie from where we were eight or nine wickets down.
“We did really well, but I also thought there were certain passages of play that’s let us down today.
“It comes down to that game awareness. If we can get that game awareness right and game management, then we’ll be winning those games.”
In the end, two points apiece, with Yorkshire supplementing wins against The Blaze and Lancashire and defeats against Somerset and Surrey.
“I don’t try and get too caught up in the results side, but it’s the way we’re playing,” said Pyrah. “We played unbelievably well against The Blaze and Lancs. We played well in patches against Surrey and Somerset and again today.
“I keep saying to people, ‘Just remember where we were at 18 months ago’. I think we counted seven Northern Diamond girls playing for Durham today that would have been playing if it had carried on.
“From where we were at 18 months ago to where we are now after the first five games, it’s pleasing, but there’s definitely areas that we can still improve on.”
Yorkshire now head into Saturday’s game against Essex at Headingley hoping Ami Campbell will be fit to play following a broken finger suffered against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford last Saturday.
The county will definitely be without all-rounder Jonassen, who is returning home to Australia tomorrow to attend a wedding.
“Her best friend is getting married,” explained Pyrah. “It’s all pre-planned. Losing her is a big loss, but it gives a chance for others to stand up.”