Ben Coad paid tribute to the bowling and fielding performances of Duanne Olivier and Tom Kohler-Cadmore as Yorkshire fought back impressively on day two against Kent at Canterbury.
The White Rose finished the day on 166-3 in their second innings, leading by a healthy 80 as Gary Ballance also hit an unbeaten half-century.
Kent, replying to a first-innings 210, will be frustrated at not making the most of a position of strength at 261-5, slipping to 296 all out midway through the afternoon.
And it was Coad, Olivier and Kohler-Cadmore who all contributed to the hosts’ downfall.
While Coad and Olivier equally shared four of the five afternoon wickets to fall and finished the innings with three wickets each, Kohler-Cadmore finished with a record-equalling six catches.
Only once before has a Yorkshire outfielder taken six catches in a first-class innings – Ellis Robinson in 1938 against Leicestershire at Bradford.
Five of Kohler-Cadmore’s catches came at first slip, with the other at deep mid-on. He took three catches today and three on day one and now has 22 in all cricket for Yorkshire this season.
Olivier, meanwhile, was particularly hostile during a productive first half of the afternoon as the White Rose blew away the Kent tail.
Highlights
“It’s been a good day,” said Coad.
“When they got through the first hour only losing one, it looked like it could have been a long day. But after lunch, it was a proper bowling performance.
“The pitch is a little bit slower, and it’s not nipping as fast and bouncing as nicely as it was before.
“After the new ball, it’s a nice batting surface. But we showed that you can still get a bit out of it if you’re disciplined.
“At 260-5, they’re looking at a big total. But the way D (Olivier) bowled there, it was fast and hostile.
“He’s done some really good stuff for us, and he’s been that hostile bowler we’ve needed in the past. He was right on the money today. You could see that from the way they were jumping around even on a slow pitch.
“Tom took seven catches in the game at Hampshire and six in that first innings.
“It’s quite phenomenal to actually get that many balls going to a certain person.
“He has fabulous hands in the slips, and I wouldn’t expect anything less.
“We know we have a great slip cordon, one, two, three and four when Brooky’s in there as well.
“Generally, if it gets edged and it’s carried, you know it’s going to be taken. It’s great feeling.”
On the importance of catching, Kohler-Cadmore said: “You don’t get in the team anymore as just a batsman. I try and keep my fielding so that it’s not a reason to be left out of the side.
“With your fielding, you can affect a game without scoring runs, and it makes a big difference.
“If the bowlers are doing their job right and you’re dropping a lot, it’s an issue. But we’ve been good this year. Hopefully we can continue that.”
