Qayyum five-wicket haul seals 2nd XI win
Imran Qayyum’s five-wicket haul sealed a superb Second XI Championship win against Sussex at Polo Farm after centuries by teenagers Zak Crawley and Ollie Robinson.
The 23-year-old left-arm spinner took 5/50 in 21.5 overs after Kent set the visitors a testing target of 392 to chase on the final day.
The platform for a fine victory was built by academy scholars past and present Crawley and Robinson, aged 19 and 18, who shared a stand of 140 for the sixth wicket.
Crawley smashed 17 fours to reach his third hundred in second XI cricket before striking seven more boundaries to accelerate to 138.
At the other end, Robinson hit nineteen fours and two sixes in his maiden second XI century as Kent posted 392 in 90.1 overs.
Hugh Bernard removed both openers before stumps on day 1 on his way to 4/75, the pick of the first-innings attack.
Qayyum picked up 3/36, Sandwich Town all-rounder Grant Stewart grabbed two wickets with Matt Hunn taking the other as Sussex scored 246 to trail by 146 runs.
In reply, Kent were reduced to 20-3 before skipper Will Gidman steadied the ship with a second forty-something score in the match to give Kent a good lead going into the final day.
Qayyum smashed 24 off 15 balls on the final morning to add insult to injury before completing a fine all-round display with the ball.
Hunn removed both openers with the new ball before Stewart, Bernard and Adam Riley removed the middle order and Qayyum polished off the remaining resistance.