Kent out-fought despite Coles’ five for 31

Veteran seamer Alan Richardson inspired Worcestershire to a 10-wicket victory inside two days at the St Lawrence Ground. In overcast conditions at Canterbury, Kent were out-fought by a gritty Worcestershire middle order batting display that secured a slender yet precious 35-run first-innings lead – despite a return of five for 31 by paceman Matt Coles.

Kent were out-bowled for the second time in the game by Richardson, who bagged seven for 22 in 14.3 overs – his best figures for Worcestershire – to skittle Kent for 63 in a shade under two hours.

Richardson, who turned 38 this month, ran riot from the Pavilion End claiming match figures of 12 for 63 – his third 10-wicket haul of a 158-game first-class career.

Worcestershire took 8.5 overs to score the 29 they needed for victory with two days and 18 overs in hand – doubling their points tally for the season in the process.

Resuming on 105 for four, Worcestershire crept into a first-innings lead courtesy of a dogged sixth-wicket stand of 66 between Neil Pinner (20) and Michael Johnson (38). It was the second-highest partnership of the low-scoring game.

Coles returned after lunch to blast out the Worcestershire tail to bag his first five-wicket return of the summer, but his display paled into insignificance once Richardson got the new ball in his hands from the Pavilion End.

All hustle and bustle and long levers, Richardson had opener Sam Northeast caught at third slip with his third delivery and barely bowled a bad ball thereafter.

Gareth Andrew accounted for Rob Key, leg before to a full-length in-swinger, but it was Richardson's lethal away swing that sent Brendan Nash, Michael Powell and Darren Stevens packing to catches in the cordon.

With five under his belt Richards finished the job, and Kent's innings off, by having Mark Davies caught at slip and snaring last man Charlie Shreck leg before with successive balls to finish the day on a hat-trick.

Kent banked three points from this game, with the visitors sweeping to victory within 53 deliveries.

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Photo: Sarah Ansell