Tom Kohler-Cadmore smashed 73 off 30 balls to help Yorkshire beat Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast at Emerald Headingley tonight and admitted he had a point to prove after being left out at Lancashire last week.
The England Lions opener missed out in the Roses defeat at Emirates Old Trafford with Joe Root available, something he was understandably frustrated by.
However, he responded ideally by walloping five fours and six sixes to underpin Yorkshire’s 226-8 in a 31-run DLS North Group victory over the Bears.
He and Adam Lyth did the bulk of the damage in a six-over power play score of 92-1 – a Yorkshire record and the highest anywhere in this season’s Blast.
Since missing that Roses clash last Friday, Kohler-Cadmore scored 173 in a second XI Championship match earlier this week and will be hoping to continue his excellent form when the Vikings travel to Chesterfield to take on Derbyshire tomorrow (2.30pm).
“It was frustrating missing out at Lancs, and I just wanted to prove a point and keep proving it,” he said.
“Hopefully, if I keep putting in performances like this, I won’t miss out again and can also push that form into red ball cricket as well.
“For me, it’s about making a difference and winning games for Yorkshire.
“There’s nothing else I can do.
“When you’re told you’re missing out, you can whinge and moan. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to get out and get on with it. I used that as motivation rather than something that would perhaps derail me.”
Yorkshire won for the fourth time in six matches to move into the North Group’s top four places, which would secure quarter-final qualification come the end of the group stage.
“It was really good. It’s always nice when you get two points early on in a big run of games,” said Kohler-Cadmore of the first of three games in four days and five in eight in all.
“With three games in four days, it’s good for us to kick-start that momentum after that close loss at Lancs.
“The rain looked like it was going to finish the game, and that’s the last thing you want with a big score on the board.
“Our bowlers did a real good job and saw us home.
“Everyone came in and bowled really well. The way the spinners tied them up in the middle was excellent and Liam and Patto at the end there.”
Derbyshire beat Leicestershire tonight, but they are out of the top four having won two and lost four of their six matches so far.
“It’s going to be a big game,” added Kohler-Cadmore.
“The next three are important for us.
“If we do well and win them, we’ll be looking good. But it’s all about playing and winning tomorrow before we think about Monday (Leicestershire at Headingley).
Adil Rashid plays tomorrow before linking up with England’s Test squad.