Bairstow: White Rose will rise to occasion

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Jonny Bairstow is confident Yorkshire will not be overawed by the prospect of their maiden Friends Life t20 finals day appearance.

The White Rose head to the SWALEC Stadium along with Somerset, Hampshire and semi-final opponents Sussex - three sides who boast eight appearances at the showpiece between them, with the former two having booked their place for a third successive season.

Yorkshire's previous best finish came courtesy of quarter-final appearances in 2006 and 2007, a hurdle they overcame in style against Worcestershire at Headingley Carnegie last month as Joe Root and David Miller struck fifties in a 29-run triumph.

That meant eight wins from the last eight completed matches in the shortest form for Andrew Gale's side and wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow insists Yorkshire must focus on the reality of this rich vein of form to avoid being distracted by the glitz and glamour of the occasion.

"At the end of the day it's just another game," Bairstow, who unlike Tim Bresnan has been made available for finals day, told ecb.co.uk "We've won eight on the bounce.

"At the end of the day it's just another game," Jonny Bairstow, right, said of Yorkshire's Friends Life t20 semi-final with Sussex

"It can be as eagerly anticipated as you like but, at the end of the day, we're happy with the way that we're playing, the plans that we've got in place and the players that are playing for Yorkshire.

"Going in off the back of those eight wins is obviously a massive confidence boost going into finals day and hopefully we'll be able to carry on the performances that we've been putting in and get to that final."

Since helping to secure his county's passage to finals day, Bairstow's star has continued to ascend on the international stage.

A majestic 139 for England Lions against Australia A at Old Trafford earlier this month won the 22-year-old a recall for his fourth Test cap in the final match of the Investec Series against South Africa.

Bairstow continued in similar fashion, falling five short of a maiden Test century when top-scoring in England's first innings before a swashbuckling 54 on the final day sparked the hosts' valiant push for victory, which ultimately proved in vain.

The experiences of recent weeks may well prove invaluable to Bairstow's development and he believes growing up collectively, albeit away from such limelight, must be considered a vital ingredient in Yorkshire's run to within two games of a first limited-overs trophy for a decade.

"It's probably just a bit more experience from the guys," he said of the Tykes' t20 form this year. "Over the last couple of years it's been a very young side.

"There's been no question about the talent and ability that we've got within the squad at Yorkshire, but it seems that this time we've executed our skills right.

"People have played important knocks at important times of games and we've all pulled together as a unit throughout the side."

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