BEN Coad says Yorkshire’s dressing room remains hugely confident of claiming an opening round Bob Willis Trophy victory over Durham at Emirates Riverside, despite the hosts’ day two fightback.

After being bowled out for 103 in their first innings, Durham would have been fearing the worst.

But they reduced Yorkshire to 84-4 at close on day one before bowling them out for 199 after lunch during yesterday's play. They then closed at 106-2 from 51 overs in their second innings, a slender lead of 10.

Durham’s day two? Opinion is split. Yorkshire in the ascendancy in the game? Without doubt.

Fast bowler Coad has enjoyed an excellent game so far.

Having taken 4-23 with the ball in the first innings, he helped Yorkshire advance from 164-9 by dominating a 10th-wicket stand of 35 with Jack Shutt. He finished with a belligerent 28 off 31 balls.

“It’s been okay (the day’s play),” he said at the close of play yesterday.

“We’re in a good position still. I would still say it’s been our day.

“I just think the pitch has died out a bit. We knew it was slow all the time, but it was nipping around a bit first morning and first day.

“Ideally we could have got a few more runs, but we were already four down. That was tricky. But to get a 96-run lead and then those couple of wickets and control the run-rate like we have, I still think it’s been a very positive day.

“We’ve seen how it’s gone over the last two days, if we get a couple of wickets we could really fly through them.

“We put a good hard shift in with the ball, and I think we’re in a really good position. Come the morning, if we have a good first hour, we will be right in there.”

Coad came in at number 10 immediately after lunch with Matthew Fisher for company.

He said: “When I walked out with Fish, he had a plan. He was going to be the aggressor, but unfortunately it didn’t pay off when he got caught at mid-on.

“When it was me and Shutty, I thought it was the best option (to play some shots) to get a good few runs on the board.

“I took a few chances, and thankfully they paid off.

“I didn’t want to stick around on that pitch knowing that one ball would have my name on it when it was nipping around a bit.”

Coad has started the season with a new look, a significant beard, leading him to recently comparing himself, while on Twitter, to Alan from the Hangover movie.

“I just thought I’d try it out,” he chuckled.

“I’ve never had a proper beard before, but there was time to try some new things out. So I went for it, and it’s actually turned out better than I thought.

“I’m feeling a bit more aggressive, and I think it comes across in my bowling!”