Billings knock and early wickets keep Kent on top at Hampshire
Tuesday 16th September 2014
Sam Billings almost became the third centurion as Kent rattled up a huge first innings total of 507 to frustrate promotion-seeking Hampshire for a second day on a benign Ageas Bowl wicket.
Hampshire made an awkward 127 for three from 42 overs in reply after losing three early wickets and ended another one-sided day still 380 behind.
Much will depend on James Vince who was 64 not out at the close as Hampshire go in search of desperately-needed LV= Championship batting bonus points.
Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Notheast, century-makers on the first day, should have been joined by Billings who made a chanceless 92 until he was last out, caught at long-on by Imran Tahir off Will Smith fearing he was running out of partners.
Kent were already in a powerful position at the start of the second day at 312 for three from 96 overs after winning the toss and Bell-Drummond and Northeast were in no mood to surrender their dominance, taking their fourth partnership to 244 before they were separated at last.
Former Kent pace bowler Matt Coles found a way through Northeast’s defences at 330 but not before the in-form batsman had made 128 from 214 balls with 14 fours and a six the previous day off Liam Dawson.
Coles struck for a fourth time at 341 when Darren Stevens edged into the slips and Bell-Drummond’s seven hour, 18 minute vigil concluded in anti-climax at 371, tamely leg before to Tahir’s googly.
Bell-Drummond’s outstanding contribution of 153 came off 336 balls, included 22 fours and was a model of patience albeit on an easy-paced batting surface.
Hampshire might have thought the worst was behind them before young wicketkeeper Billings and Calum Haggett put on a further 71 for the seventh wicket as the home attack wilted in the sunshine.
Haggett was run out at 452 but James Tredwell joined Billings in a stand of 48 for the eighth wicket and only the introduction of occasional off-spinner Smith brought an end to the carnage.
Smith had Tredwell caught behind before Billings went for his shots and paid the penalty in the 150th over.
Coles took a respectable four for 84, Tahir, drafted in to help the promotion cause, took three for 140 from 36 overs and Smith two for 27 to hasten the end.
Tired Hampshire, after five sessions in the field, soon lost makeshift opener Smith, replacing the injured Michael Carberry, at 30, pinned leg before by Stevens.
Jimmy Adams was the next Hampshire batsman to go at 53, run out by Tredwell after a mid-pitch mix-up and Hampshire were a precarious 98 for three when Dawson drove Adam Riley to Tredwell at midwicket.
It was then that Vince took charge, helping debut-making England under 19 left-hander Tom Alsop through to the close. Vince has so far struck ten fours but the day belonged to Kent again.
Hampshire, with Essex breathing down their necks in third place, have so far collected just the one bowling bonus point.
Billings said: "We have batted ourselves into a very decent position. It is a decent deck but it has started spinning and the first hour tomorrow will be crucial.
‘’Dan and Sam set it up for the later batsmen with their huge partnership and gave opportunities for players like myself to play with freedom and put 500 on the board.
‘’I was disappointed not to make a century. There was plenty of time in retrospect and to hole-out eight runs short was annoying in the extreme.’’
Former Kent bowler Matt Coles, now of Hampshire, said: ’’We are playing catch-up, but we have wickets in hand. It is a good wicket to bat on and hopefully we can cash in tomorrow.
"With Essex picking up the points, the promotion issue is going to go down to the last round of matches next week, so it is very exciting.’’