Spitfires lose One-Day Cup semi at Edgbaston

Thursday 4th September 2014

Men’s First Team

Metro Bank One Day Cup

Kent Spitfires bowed out at the semi-final stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup with a disappointing defeat to Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Captain Rob Key won the toss and chose to bat first and built a steady 43 opening stand with Sam Northeast (31) before top-edging a pull shot off Boyd Rankin to Jeetan Patel for 23.

The Irishman struck again as Sam Northeast's leading edge was held by Rankin, who bowled with pace and accuracy to claim 3 for 34.

Ben Harmison and Brendan Nash also got starts before each being dismissed for 21: Harmison fell to an athletic Laurie Evans catch before Nash was run-out by millimetres after a referral to the TV umpire to leave Kent on 111 for 4 at the halfway stage.

Warwickshire were sharp in the field and Evans held a one-handed catch from Darren Stevens' miscued sweep.

Oliver Hannon-Dolby dismissed Alex Blake (21) and Fabian Cowdrey (34) as the middle order looked to accelerate the run rate.

It was left for a trademark Sam Billings' 40 from 40 balls after a watchful start to help Kent from 161-8 to 215-8 with David Griffiths (12no).

In reply, Warwickshire started slowly and opener Will Porterfield handed an easy catch to Northeast off Mitchell Claydon for 10.

The hosts were behind Kent after the first powerplay as Darren Stevens' tidy bowling featured three maidens before former England Test star Jonathan Trott (58) and Varun Chopra (50) put on a decisive 110 partnership for the second wicket.

Trott reached his half century off just 49 balls before walking for 58, cutting Griffiths to Nash at backward point and Chopra claimed his 50 before Adam Riley trapped him LBW.

David Griffiths gave the travelling Kent supporters something to cheer near the end as he claimed the wicket of Evans, who played on for 24.

Veteran wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose saw the hosts home hit an unbeaten 51 and ex-England allrounder Rikki Clarke (8no) guided the Bears to a six-wicket win in front of a sparse Edgbaston crowd.

Warwickshire advance to the final at Lord's on September 20 to face Durham or Nottinghamshire as they bid for a second trophy this season after their Natwest T20 Blast triumph last month.