Ottis Gibson keen for experience in Yorkshire ranks after Finals Day heartache

The county are set to lose Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Willey in the off-season, and Gibson accepted there are significant voids that need to be filled

Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson highlighted the importance of the club recruiting experienced players after watching his side lose their Vitality Blast semi-final against Lancashire at Edgbaston.

The Vikings were unable to defend 204, as their Roses rivals eased to victory with six wickets and eight balls to spare. 

Yorkshire were without three players because of England duty - Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and David Willey, were led by 23-year-old Harry Brook and saw 20-year-old seamer Matthew Revis go for 35 runs from 10 deliveries. 

The county are set to lose Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Willey in the off-season, and Gibson accepted there are significant voids that need to be filled.

"Some of the young players have played very well during the tournament and have really come on," he said.

^{Tom Kohler-Cadmore made a half-century in his final Blast appearance for Yorkshire [Getty Images]}

"Now we will have a look around and see whether we bring in someone with a little bit more experience to come in alongside them next year.

"Tom Kohler-Cadmore and David Willey are moving on to the next stages of their career, and we thank them for everything they have done for us and wish them well. We missed Will today."

Willey's know-how in the powerplay was particularly noticeable by its absence, as Lancashire hit 89 off the first six overs of the chase.

"It is disappointing but, as disappointing as it is, this quite young team showed what it can do by getting to Finals Day," Gibson said.

"Having got there, we would like to have done better, of course. You can have the best plans in the world, but you have to execute them had we didn’t really do that today."

While off-spinner Dom Bess went at 8.75 runs per over, and leg-spinner Shadab Khan at 7.75, the seamers received considerable treatment from Lightning's top order.

^{Jordan Thompson hit a 17-ball fifty [Getty Images]}

 "We had a really good effort to get over 200. We had a bit of a stumble before Thommo got us over the line," said Brook, reflecting on the 17-ball half-century made by Jordan Thompson earlier in the day.

"Their spinners bowled very well. Our spinners bowled well too. It looked like a tough wicket to get boundaries off spin. Wickets were key at the start. If we would have got two or three, it might have been a different story."

For Lancashire captain Dane Vilas, the nature of the win - and the ease with which it eventually came - was a surprise.

"When you get off to a good start like that, it allows you to bat through with the opposition on the back foot," he said. "The aim was to bring the required rate down."

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