Picture by John Clifton/SWPix.com. Ben Coad (l) congratulates Matthew Revis on his century at York today.
Matthew Revis and Ben Coad were the toast of Clifton Park today, and they are confident Yorkshire can build on a stunning day three and complete a victory over Essex tomorrow.
Revis scored a stunning 150, while Coad had an equally memorable day with 89 and two wickets as Yorkshire piled the pressure on Essex by claiming a first-innings lead of 91 and reducing them to 33-3 second time around.
Revis and Coad, who both posted career best scores, shared a partnership of 169 to recover Yorkshire from 273-8 in reply to 368, a ninth-wicket record for any county against Essex in a first-class match.
The White Rose still have plenty of work to do to clinch a second win of the season and leapfrog Essex in the Division One table in the process. But hopes are high.
New-ball magician Coad said: “It was important not to strive for wickets out there – just put it in a good area.
“We know it’s been a pretty decent pitch to bat on, so we just have to make it as hard as possible for them.
“It’s still a decent pitch. But if we keep it in the right areas like that for long enough, we’ll be in a great position.”
Revis followed up last week’s 93 not out against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge with 18 fours and two leg-side sixes in 187 balls – his third first-class century.
“Last week, I just missed out,” he said. “But I’m really happy to get over the line and happy to spend a bit of time in the middle again with Coady. We always enjoy batting together.
“Division One centuries are obviously held a bit higher than Division Two centuries, so I’m really happy.
“I’m just excited to have put the team in a good position tonight, and thankfully we picked up those three wickets.”
Coad said: “We’ve had some good partnerships in the past. I don’t know what it is. Whenever we’re out there, it seems really calm.
“Rev did a great job at the other end.
“I knew he wasn’t getting out, so I knew I could just bat as I wanted to bat. Thankfully we’ve got a good partnership, and it’s got us into a good position.”
On falling short of a maiden career ton, bowled trying to attack the leg-spin of Matt Critchley, he smiled: “I wasn’t even thinking about the hundred. Not at all!
“I was trying to tell myself not to change how I bat, and that’s obviously led to my downfall.
“But that’s how I got to 89. So I was going to keep batting like that, and just unfortunately I didn’t get there.”
