Kent wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson admitted he would give his team seven out of 10 for their performance on day one of their County Championship tie against Yorkshire. 

The game is finely poised after 100 overs of batting for Yorkshire as the visitors reached 358/8 at stumps, and the match situation swung both ways throughout the day, with Yorkshire racing to 124/1 – mainly thanks to former England opener Adam Lyth’s 97 – before slipping to 219/5.

Lower-order partnerships helped Yorkshire late in the day though and an unbroken stand of 59 between David Willey and captain Steven Patterson helped them to a situation where 400 is in sight. 

“I would give us a seven I reckon” said Robinson following the close of play. “We let them get away a bit this morning but pulled it back in the afternoon. We probably let it slip again at the end, but it is an even day I think, getting them eight down, especially after their start.

“It happens and you get those days. It is how you bounce back and that is what good teams do.”

The runs on the board look positive for Yorkshire, but Robinson admitted that the pitch is a good one and he fancies his side’s chances when it is their turn to bat.

“It is a good wicket, not many demons in it” he said. “If you get in, you can really cash in like Lyth did today. 

“It was a pretty even day and if we bat well tomorrow, we will be in a very good position. Hopefully we can get the next two wickets quickly and set out our stall out.

“We just have to stick to our plans and I am sure it will happen. The bowlers will come out fresh tomorrow and then we are hopefully going to bat all day – hopefully I am not required!”

Robinson has taken five catches in the innings so far, including for the wicket of England test captain Joe Root, who was dismissed for 11 off the bowling of Matt Milnes, who produced a rising delivery at good pace to dismiss the Yorkshireman in the middle of an electrifying spell just after lunch.

Robinson said: “It is always nice to get a catch, especially when it is a big name. He is just like any other player in county cricket though I guess, so you cannot play on the name too much.

“You always need the bit of buzz from someone to do something special and then you get going. Especially in the cold – it does make a massive difference if someone is going well and taking wickets, it gives everyone a bit of a buzz.”

Robinson joked about putting up with the cold weather as Kent were in the field all day with minimal heat to assist them, however he did admit the cold conditions didn’t help his team performance wise.

“It is alright for me; I have gloves on!” he laughed. “The other lads struggled a bit. Jack (Leaning) bought some snoods the other day, so the lads have some neck warmers now. 

“It does make a difference, but we have to find a way. It is the same for both teams. We need to get as many layers on as we can. I have three or four on but some of the lads have five or six!

“There is an element that the ball is too cold to swing but we have played on good wickets too – there is nothing to worry about. 

“When the son comes out it swings more which is the other way around really, but where it is so cold it does not allow it to swing. 

“Podders (Harry Podmore) got it to swing a bit before he went off. Fingers crossed tomorrow it does not swing for them.”