Denly hits 96 & spinners thrive in USA win
Thursday 8th February 2018
Joe Denly hit 96 and Adam Riley took three wickets as Kent beat the USA to record a third successive win on the FGS Plant Tour in Antigua.
In another low-scoring contest at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, the Americans won the toss and invited Kent to bat.
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Several batsmen got starts but only man-of-the-match Denly converted to a significant score for his 21st one-day half-century.
In reply, United States openers Sunny Sohal and Jaskarean Malhotra started aggressively before Calum Haggett trapped Sohal LBW in the fifth over.
Skipper Denly brought himself into the attack to stem the scoring and trapped former Windies batsmen Xavier Marshall in front as he got a leg break to grip.
USA captain Ibrahim Khaleel began to rebuild with Malhotra before he ran out the opener as Alex Blake’s direct hit denied a suicidal second run.
Khaleel then played the anchor role as Will Gidman Kent’s triumvirate of spinners strangled the scoring in the middle overs.
Gidman conceded just 13 runs in eight overs before Imran Qayyum picked up two wickets in his second Tour appearance.
Off-spinner Adam Riley grabbed 3/36 in a fine nine-over spell with Denly returning 1/37.
Next up on the FGS Plant Tour is a match against Guyana on Saturday (10 February) with live coverage on BT Sport.