STEVE Patterson has heaped praise on wicketkeeper Jonny Tattersall after a superb start to his first full summer as Yorkshire’s senior wicketkeeper-batsman.

Tattersall’s unbeaten 14 off five balls against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on Wednesday night may have been small in number, but it was huge in significance as he hit all of the 12 needed off the last over to keep Yorkshire’s Royal London one-day Cup qualification hopes alive.

Last month, the 24-year-old started the summer with a maiden first-class century against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities and has hit three further fifties in County Championship and one-day cricket.

His keeping has also been impressive, with his composure a particularly noticeable asset.

Tattersall ousted Andrew Hodd as Yorkshire’s senior wicketkeeper midway through last summer, and he is making the absolute most of his second chance in the county game having been released by Yorkshire in 2015 and re-signed by them in 2017.

Captain Patterson said: “He’s really, really kicked on this year.

“Last year when he came into the team, he put in some good performances as he was finding his feet. But he’s worked hard on his game this winter, as we all do, and the way he’s started the season has just been phenomenal.

“In Championship cricket he’s been solid, but he’s been absolutely outstanding in this form of the game (50-over cricket).

“It’s surprised even me as to how well he’s played.

“It’s a pleasure to see someone playing with that kind of enjoyment and buzz about his game. Hopefully it will continue for the rest of the season.”

Patterson was speaking immediately after Yorkshire’s win over Northants, their second in six RL50 North Group games, and was looking ahead to tomorrow’s must-win clash with Worcestershire at New Road.

Yorkshire and Worcester are two of six teams separated by only four points at the top of the North Group and chasing a top-three finish for qualification.

Notts are top on 10 points, Yorkshire are sixth on six points, with Worcester one of the teams sandwiched in between on eight points.

They are the only side to beat Notts so far, by five wickets chasing only 122 at New Road on Wednesday.

For captain Patterson, it has been a largely frustrating competition following two ties and a one-run defeat to Lancashire

“The cricket we’ve played, we feel we should have won four or five,” he said.

“Winning the Leicester game so comfortably, by over 200 runs, it was a fantastic start to the tournament. Then we’ve stuttered from there with the two ties and the loss to Lancs.

“We were beaten fair and square by Notts, and you can accept that because we didn’t play well enough.

“It’s those close games where at one stage in all of them we were in control and didn’t see it through. That only adds to the frustration.

“To go on and finish the job at Northants, it’s fantastic for the lads. We’ll take that to Worcester and see how we go.

“All we can do is concentrate on what’s in front of us. We’ve got to win them both (Durham at Emerald Headingley on Monday is the other) and see what else happens.

“Worcester are a good side, we know that.

“But if our lads play to our capabilities, we’re confident we’ll win the game.

“Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Harry Brook, Gary Ballance, if one of those goes on and makes a big score, it will be very hard to stop us winning.”