When Coronavirus protocols allow, Steve Patterson and good mate Jack Leaning will likely catch up for a meal or a night out. After events on day two at Canterbury, the chances are Yorkshire captain Patterson will enjoy it a whole lot more.
That is because, during a highly productive White Rose day in this LV= Insurance County Championship fixture at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Patterson had Leaning caught behind for a three-ball duck.
In reply to Yorkshire’s first-innings 379, Kent posted 265 all out, including 3-43 from 18 overs for the ever-impressive seamer Patterson.
Yorkshire, leading by 114 on first innings, then extended that lead in the two overs before close, finishing on 6-0.
With the county down two leading bowlers in injured Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher, they needed a performance from 37-year-old Patterson.
And he didn’t disappoint alongside Duanne Olivier, who returned a fine 3-55 from 18.1.
Patterson started the day at the crease and completed a useful lower order 38 as the visitors advanced their overnight 358-8, also including an unbeaten 37 for David Willey.
Before this game, Patterson joked about the text message banter he had shared with Leaning, who is facing his home county for the first time since leaving at the end of 2019 and actually claimed the wicket of Jonny Tattersall with his first ball of off-spin on day one.
“I don’t think Jack’s overly excited about facing me!” he laughed.
That proved exactly the case because, three balls into the afternoon, Leaning played forwards and edged behind to Tattersall, leaving Kent at 59-3 at the end of the 20th over.
At the start of that over, Patterson had also trapped Joe Denly lbw to bring the morning to a close and later removed opener Jordan Cox (38) via the same method as Kent fell to 86-5 in the 28th.
Earlier, Willey had made the initial breakthrough by trapping Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw before Olivier bowled England Test batsman Zak Crawley for one with a beauty of nip-backer, leaving Kent at 25-2 in the sixth over.
From 86-5, Kent recovered significantly, led by recently crowned Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Darren Stevens – the 44-year-old all-rounder, who made 52. If he plays until he is aged 52, it would be no surprise.
Stevens firstly shared an aggressive 70 for the sixth wicket through the heart of the afternoon with Ollie Robinson, who made 44, and then 49 for the seventh with Grant Stewart either side of tea.
Jordan Thompson had Robinson caught behind down leg by Tattersall before tea – 156-6 in the 49th over – and then Harry Brook’s medium pace trapped Stevens lbw early in the evening as Kent fell to 205-7 in the 63rd.
It was only Brook’s second career first-class wicket.
Yorkshire were made to work hard for their wickets, especially during an attritional evening session, but this was an impressive and disciplined display.
They were happy to sit in and be patient after the Stevens dismissal, waiting for the new ball to come at 80 overs, by which time Kent had moved to 241-7.
Unbroken Stewart and Matt Milnes had added 36 before Willey and Olivier took up the attack.
But South African quick Olivier ensured there was only another six runs added to that partnership by getting Stewart caught behind for 40 in the 82nd over, leaving he score at 247-8.
With injured Kent seamer Harry Podmore unable to bat due to a side strain, their innings was wrapped up when Miguel Cummins fended an Olivier short ball to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at slip in the 88th over.
Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth (6) then opened the Yorkshire second innings.