Kemp shepherds Spitfires to victory

Kent Spitfires v Warwickshire Bears – Friends Provident Trophy

Renowned big-hitter, Justin kemp, justified his recall to the Spitfire’s starting line-up by scoring a thoroughly sensible and utterly low-key 45 not out to help a nervous Kent limp over the winning line with four wickets in hand at Canterbury today.

Chasing a modest Bears“ total of 218 all out, Kent were making heavy weather of the pursuit in reaching 125 for four until Kemp – back in the Trophy side for the first time since April 26 – teamed up with Geraint Jones to put the hosts back on track with a fifth-wicket stand worth 61 in 11 overs.
Jones swished outside off to go for 35, then James Tredwell completed an off day when he was pinned leg before, but Kemp saw it through in tandem with Azhar Mahmood to seal Kent“s third straight Trophy win with 49 balls to spare.
Spitfires made a flying start to the run chase through Rob Key (20) and Joe Denly (49) who clattered along at six-an-over, but things became much tougher once the ball started to get soft and wickets tumbled accordingly.

Key, walking down the pitch to drive on the up, edged to the keeper, Denly chipped a catch to cover, Martin van Jaarsveld drove back to the bowler then James Hockley chopped on when trying to cut off his stumps, but Kemp came in to shore up the reply and ensure victory by 5.10pm.
Once again it was new overseas signing and man-of-the-match Wayne Parnell who gave Spitfires a flying start to their spell in the field when he removed Warwickshire“s Neil Carter and Ian Bell in successive overs to make it 22-2.
Carter chopped onto his off stump when trying to pull a short one then Parnell clearly enjoyed taking the prized scalp of Ian Bell for nought by pegging back the England man“s middle stump with a quick, full length delivery.
The Bears counter attacked sensible through left-hander Jim Troughton and Jonathon Trott who added 108 in 18 overs without much risk or worry.
Troughton punished James Tredwell“s off-spinners in particular, hitting him for three sixes on his way to a 40-ball half-century that also included five fours, while Trott played a patient second fiddle by reaching his 50 from 80 ball and with only three fours.
But the hosts undid all their good work with an array of weak strokes and poor shot-making decisions that led to the loss of their last eight wickets for 88 runs with Parnell finishing with three for 27 and left-arm spinner Rob Ferley an excellent three for 34.
Though Tredwell endured a rare bad in the office, his nine wicket-less overs cost 60 runs, fellow off-spinner van Jaarsveld chipped in with two wickets as the Bears woefully underachieved on a decent pitch