Canterbury Week Match Report: Day Three, Kent v Essex
Friday 10th August 2012
Kent have suffered their second defeat of the LV= County Championship season withtheir Canterbury Week matchcoming to a close on day threewith the visitors chalking up a seven-wicket win.
Having resumed on their overnight position of nine for three, Kent lost their last seven wickets for 92 runs against a three-man Essex attack shorn of the services of the injured David Masters.
Jamaican-born paceman Maurice Chambers proved the scourge of the Kent top-order in claiming four for 31 – a tally which included his 100th first-class wicket for Essex.
Harbhajan Singh and Graham Napier provided support to bag three wickets apiece as Kent succumbed for 101.
Chambers started to rout with the 20th ball of the day when he rushed one down the St Lawrence slope to trap Brendan Nash leg before as the ex-West Indies Test batsman made a fatal late decision to shoulder arms.
Chambers then got one to lift at Michael Powell, who could only spar and edge to wicketkeeper James Foster.
Napier got in on the act by snaring Darren Stevens lbw as the Kent shot-maker drove across the line of an in-ducker, while Harbhajan enticed Alex Blake into an ill-advised late cut that sailed into the hands of Chambers at backward point.
Three balls later, Azhar Mahmood drove on the up against a good length Napier delivery to pick out Jaik Mickleburgh at short extra cover and go for a golden duck.
Experienced Kent keeper Geraint Jonesmade it intodouble figures before he glanced a popping Harbhajan delivery straight to leg slip fielder Ryan ten Doeschate.
Matt Coles became Kent's last man out when he dragged a Napier slower ball to Harbhajan at short mid-wicket to send the sides in for a slightly delayed lunch.
Kent captain Rob Key then presented Coles and top-order batsman Sam Northeast their Kent caps during the interval.
Essex emerged after the resumption looking to polish off the 55 runs they needed for their second win of the season in double-quick time. However, the modest pursuit hardly went according to plan.
Jaik Mickleburgh went leg before to Mahmood, who then plucked out Tom Westley's off stump to make it 19 for two.
Owais Shah reached 13 before top-edging a pull against Charlie Shreck to be caught at long leg with Essex still 20 short of their target.
Mark Pettini teamed up with Ryan ten Doeschate to see their side over the win line, however, with Ten Doeschate hitting Adam Riley for six into the Frank Woolley stand and then for a single behind square to polish off the 21-point win by 3pm and with four sessions remaining.
The result keeps Kent fourth in the table on 119 points, one behind Hampshire and Yorkshire, while Essex have put themselves in the picture on 106.
Canterbury Week continues on Sunday when Kent Spitfires take on Derbyshire Falcons in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.
This is a must win match for the Spitfires, so please come and show your support for the boys.The Club have a variety of activities taking place throughout the day for families, with free entry forchildren aged 16 and under.
Children can make their own gold medal with Espression art studio, take on Victa in the Ultimate Mascot Challenge or enjoy thebouncy castle and Super Fun Slide. There will also be face painting, Playmobil in the Fenwick's childrens play area and the chance to learn to cheerlead with the Spitfire Sweethearts. Also, don't miss the opportunity to have your photo taken with the Olympic Torch. Torchbearer, Rob Waite will be here collecting donations for men's health charity, Orchid.
Photo Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com