Kent Spitfires v Hampshire: Cowdrey spin and unbeaten DBD 80 seals 5-wicket win
Thursday 30th July 2015
Daniel Bell-Drummond carried his bat with an unbeaten 80 not out to help Kent Spitfires secure a five-wicket win in the Royal London One-Day Cup match against Hampshire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
The opener, who turns 22 next week, put on 131 for the first wicket with partner Joe Denly (78 off 79 balls) after Fabian Cowdrey took 3-32 as the hosts restricted Hampshire to 233.
Cameos from Darren Stevens and Alex Blake (34 not out off 24 balls) sealed the first win in the 50-over competition which started last weekend.
Earlier, more than 2,500 supporters saw former Kent opener Michael Carberry blasted Hants to 75-0 in the 10-over powerplay before tight Kent bowling restricted the scoring and stifled the middle order.
Evergreen all-rounder Stevens got the breakthrough by removing Carberry and later dismissed Vince as Hampshire reached 111-3 off 18 overs.
Two calamitous run-outs and economical spin from Cowdrey and James Tredwell turned the screw as Kent took 8-80 in 21 overs.
Cowdrey’s career-best return earned him the Fitzgerald Jewellers Man of the Match prize before death bowler Mitch Claydon mopped up the tail to finish with 2-28 from 6.5 overs.