v Kent CC1 @ Tunbridge Wells Wednesday 21 May 2008

Scorecard

Can we notch up our first victory points in Kent?  The weather and dogged batting defence by our opponents has meant we have no wins under our belts in the Championship in 2008.  We haven't lost but we need those extra 10-ish in the bank to chase Notts for the big silverware.

We go into this game with the formula side;

Trescothick, Edwards, Langer, Hidreth, Blackwell, de Bruyn, Trego, Kieswetter, Jones, Phillips, Willoughby

There's no place for Michael Munday in this match and Caddick and Turner are still not ready for consideration although Mark is nearer than Andy in that regard. JL wins the toss and decides to change tack and bat first this time.

It wasn't a great decision as the Kent bowlers seem to have got the gist of the conditions rather better than our batsmen.  Edwardo, El Capitano (2 ball Justin), Marcus T and Zander all have their feet up before we pass 50 mostly courtesy of McLaren and although Hildreth and Blackwell both get into double figures we are six down before the hundred.

Peter Trego and Craig Kieswetter rally the troops a little and Phillips and Jones wag around Trigger's 49 so we stagger past 200 before we fall for a total of 208.  Not the winning start we were hoping for.  Up to the bowlers then.

It all looks good when Charl Willoughby has Denley first ball but it is left to his partner Trego to make inroads as Kent work around Key to set up a base.  He gets to 48 before he becomes Peter's second victim but van Jaarsfeld is putting up stiff resistance and he gets to the end of the day with Saggers as the nightwatchman.

Day 2

After the early departure of 'Saggy' Stevens puts on a spirited partnership with van Jaarsveld (moving towards a worrying century).  But thanks to good work from the support bowling of Jones, Phillips, de Bruyn neither batsmen gets to their milestone.  No fifty for Stevens and although they do pass our total with only 6 wickets down and a big first innings lead is on the cards for the home side, once Trego dismisses the big scorer for 95 the tail crumble.

Willoughby cleans up the scraps and we keep Kent under 275.  Not a great position but we're still in this game a mere 60plus behind and half a game to go.  A big push is necessary.

Niel Edwards goes early but then Kent find it hard.  Langer and Trescothick put on 111 and when the skipper goes stumped, we finish the day on 157 with Steffan in as nightwatchman.

Day 3

Steff goes early but Marcus is certainly not ready to leave the pitch yet. Even though Hildreth and de Bruyn cheaply to early conditions on the third morning we bat a ways.  At 179 Ian Blackwell arrives and it's 286 before he leaves again with a 10 four 60 to his name.  His VC stays around for a bit longer before he takes his 139 back to the locker room 2 short of 300.  but we're not over yet as Trego farms the tail from Number 8 putting on 29 while we push to 335 all out.

They need 271 and we need wickets!!

Kent seem to be cruising as Key and Denly take them past the first 50 with ease.  Enter Charl Willoughby and exit Key at 51. Ben  Phillips breaks through with the wicket of Tredwel at 62 and Van Jaarsveld doesn't repeat innings 1 as Hildreth catches him of our lefty at 67.  Kent are wobbling and Jones keeps the wobble on just after the three figures as Stevens flips the ball to Edwards.  Willoughby tempts Kemp to give the ball to the same fielder at 122 and the third day ends with Kent being held together by Denly but less than 150 from victory with 5 wickets in hand.

Day 4

Somerset need a bowler in the zone on the final morning and Denly's wicket badly!!  They get one but not the other in the early overs as Steffan Jones steps into the 'matchwinner' ring and takes the optimism of the Kent supporters and places it where the sun doesn't shine. After a 30 plus run first segment of the morning he removes his namesake Jones at 168 courtesy of Marcus T in the slips.  McLaren doesn't stay around long, bowled for 1 at 170. Arafat flips one to that slip fielder again 2 runs later and Joseph doesn't bother the scorers while adding 4 before he flips one to Trego to give Jonah a fivefer and Somerset the match?

Well you would have thought so but Saggers is not keen to leave and we can't get him out.  Denly is heading for 150 and they don't need a whole lot of runs.  The number 10 faces 48 balls for his 9 runs but his partner takes his side to 250 and his personal score to 149 before Charl comes out after lunch and puts it all to bed by getting one to move in and catching the stubborn Kentish man in front.

We win by 21 runs and thank the Gods for Welsh bowlers!!

18 points, fourth place and a game in hand.  Not too shabby.  now to stuff the Bristolians and the Welsh in the one dayers!!

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