August 2015: a month of magnificent milestones in 50-over cricket

Kent’s remarkable run chase against Nottinghamshire in the Royal London One-Day Cup group stage set a new Kent limited-over record.

Sam Billings and Alex Blake's unbeaten 133-run sixth-wicket stand helped Kent chase a record 340-5 chase surpassing the 337-7 smashed against Sussex, albeit with 10 more overs.

The top Kent run chases now read as follows:

overs

340-5 48.4 v. Nottinghamshire Nottingham 2015 RLC

337-7 38.2 v. Sussex Canterbury 2013 YB40

314-6 38.2 v. Leicestershire Leicester 1996 SL

307-2 52.1 v. Sussex Hove 1995 B&H

306-6 49.3 v. Warwickshire Canterbury 1997 B&H

296-4 58 v. Surrey Canterbury 1985 NWT

290-4 40 v. Sussex Tunbridge Wells 2006 C&G

283-4 54.1 v. Essex Canterbury 1988 B&H

It ranks 6th on the list of Kent’s highest limited-overs innings totals:

384-6 60 v. Berkshire Finchampstead 1994 NWT

383-7 50 v. Somerset Taunton 2014 RLC

359-4 60 v. Dorset Canterbury 1989 NWT

349-5 60 v. Staffordshire Stone 1995 NWT

341-6 50 v. Norfolk Horsford 2002 C&G

340-5 48.4 v. Nottinghamshire Nottingham 2015 RLC

339 49.1 v. Somerset Taunton 2002 C&G

338-6 50 v. Somerset Maidstone 1996 B&H

337-3 50 v. Surrey Canterbury 2008 FPT

337-7 38.3 v. Sussex Canterbury 2013 YB40

332-2 50 v. Glamorgan Cardiff 2006 C&G

328-9 50 v. Warwickshire Canterbury 2002 C&G

327-6 50 v. Leicestershire Canterbury 1993 SL

A less successful run chase was that against Surrey despite the herculean efforts of Matt Coles. His score of exactly 100 included nine 6s which equalled the Kent record set by former all-rounder and current coach Mark Ealham.

The tenth wicket partnership between Matt Coles and Matt Hunn put on 64, a new record for Kent for that wicket in all limited-overs cricket.

Matt Coles’ remarkable farming of the bowling meant that Matt Hunn faced only five balls in the partnership and his one run contribution was off the fifth ball and 64th and final run scored.

NINE

M.A.Ealham (112) v. Derbyshire Maidstone 1995 SL

M.T.Coles (100) v. Surrey The Oval 2015 RLC

EIGHT

A.P.Wells (118) v. Durham Canterbury 1998 SL

(included six sixes off successive balls faced)

Alex Blake lit up a disappointing display against Lancashire at Canterbury Week by smashing seven maximums in a 59-ball 89 at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on August 8.

SEVEN

B.W.Luckhurst (142) v. Somerset Weston-super-Mare 1970 SL

M.V.Fleming (63*) v. Yorkshire Canterbury 1996 SL

J.M.Kemp (54*) v. Sussex Tunbridge Wells 2006 C&G

D.I.Stevens (118) v. Sussex Canterbury 2013 YB40

A.J.Blake (89) v. Lancashire Canterbury 2015 RLC