Second XI win Trophy thriller v Hampshire
Kent ended the Second XI Trophy season in style with a fantastic run chase to defeat Hampshire at Polo Farm.
Half-centuries from Gerry Fatouros and Kai Appleby lead the effort with a quick-fire 46 from academy scholar Ollie Robinson before the lower order finished the job after Calum Haggett’s four-wicket haul helped to dismiss Hampshire for 279.
Kent captain Alex Blake’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss was soon rewarded with Haggett and Charlie Hartley striking with the new ball to remove openers Tom Alsop and Will Smith.
Fraser Hay and Brad Taylor accelerated the scoring at the start of the second powerplay before Imran Qayyum dismissed both batsmen.
Taylor (81) top-scored and the sixth-wicket stand of 89 in 90 balls added momentum for the visitors before Calum Haggett struck three times in his last two overs as the Hampshire tail wagged.
In reply, former Essex seamer Matt Salisbury removed openers Calum Haggett and Zak Crawley to reduce the hosts to 27-2 after seven overs.
The Mote batsman Gerry Fatouros struck a fluent 50 off 52 balls and departed, followed by cameos from Scotland international Matt Cross and Alex Blake, who blasted two sixes to score 13 off seven balls.
Sandwich Town’s Kai Appleby (pictured above) was the second batsman to reach 50 in a pivotal century stand off 18.1 overs with academy scholar Ollie Robinson who hit 46 off 48 balls.
Robinson’s departure left Kent needing 64 from the final seven overs with Grant Stewart and Imran Qayyum smashing four fours and a six to seal victory with four balls to spare.