County’s resolve pleases coach Ripley

Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley admitted that his side’s performance on day three at Headingley was much more palatable.
Northants head coach David RipleyNorthants head coach David Ripley
Northants head coach David Ripley

In their LV= County Championship clash with Yorkshire, the County made 149-4 in the 49 overs that were possible, a stark improvement on their efforts first time around when they were skittled for a dismal 94.

They still have work to do on the final day with the deficit standing at 216, but Ripley said that he was glad some fight had been displayed.

He said: “I was pleased we showed a bit of resolve.

“There’s still a bit in the wicket and the conditions are good for bowling so we had to play well.

“Losing the two wickets late on has given us more of an uphill task, but we’re still in there fighting.”

And Ripley stated that the difference from their first effort with the bat couldn’t have been more marked.

He continued: “We simply didn’t do ourselves justice over the first two days.

“We didn’t bowl how we wanted to and 450 was more than par on that surface.

“We knew we’d have to bat well, which we didn’t, and we’ve been much better second time around.”