Northeast digs in to keep Kent’s slim victory hopes alive

Kent v Middlesex LV County Championship, Day 3, Canterbury.
By Mark Pennell
KENT gave their outside hopes of pulling off a third-day Canterbury Week win over Middlesex a shot in the arm by losing only two wickets in Friday“s morning session in pursuit of a winning total of 335.
The hosts went in at the break on 130 for four after 51overs with youngster Sam Northeast still there having batted 100 minutes for 29, while Darren Stevens was unbeaten on one.
The first casualty of the day was opener Joe Denly (25) who added only one to his overnight total before fencing at one from Steve Finn and edging to Murali Kartik at second slip.
That brought together Northeast and van Jaarsveld for a fourth-wicket stand worth 75 in 25 overs that ended two overs before lunch, though Northeast did well to survive a stern test of character as Kartik reeled off nine overs to a packed, close field to the teenage right-hander.
Having posted a 118-ball 50 with six fours, van Jaarsveld drove airily outside off stump against all-rounder Gareth Berg to edge to Eoin Morgan at slip and send Kent into the break on a low note as they require a further 205 for victory with six wickets intact.

Photo by ARPics