Bell-Drummond & Blake hit centuries in Somerset defeat
Centuries from Daniel Bell-Drummond and Alex Blake were not enough to prevent Somerset winning in the Royal London One-Day Cup at the batsman’s paradise of Taunton.
Peter Trego smashed 135 supported by half-centuries from Dean Elgar and Roelof van der Merwe helped the hosts continue their unbeaten start to the tournament.
A superb surface and inviting boundaries prompted Kent captain Sam Northeast to bat first without hesitation.
Joe Denly was bowled by a Josh Davey inswinger with the third ball of the innings – one of the few balls of the day to misbehave.
Northeast scored his twelfth one-day 50 in a century stand with Daniel Bell-Drummond before the captain danced down the wicket to drive Roelof van der Merwe to Max Waller at extra cover.
Daniel Bell-Drummond struck eight boundaries in his third one-day century off 113 balls while Alex Blake let loose at the other end after Darren Stevens fenced Craig Overton to Allenby at slip for 14.
The left-hander hit reached 50 off 25 balls before reaching his maiden white-ball hundred off just 51 deliveries.
Blake was eventually caught in the deep by Peter Trego off Craig Overton after hitting ten fours and seven sixes in an innings of 116 off 58 balls.
Sean Dickson scored at an even quicker rate, launching three fours and two sixes in a 15-ball cameo which yielded 31 runs before he fell in similar fashion off the same bowler.
In reply, Kent made early in-roads with openers Steven Davies and Jim Allenby fell with only 19 runs on the board.
Former Surrey man Davies record his third successive duck in the competition bowled by Parnell before Allenby was caught by Denly at point off James Harris.
Trego and Elgar eased any nerves in the home dressing room and took few risks in a stand of 108 in 18.1 overs before Elgar lost patience against Tredwell and skied a catch to Denly at deep mid-wicket.
The South African had looked in no trouble and that also applied to Hildreth as he and the now swashbuckling Trego put Somerset on top by adding 131 for the fourth wicket.
Kent’s own South African import Wayne Parnell was forced from the field with illness after bowling four overs and Sam Northeast was forced to employ the part-time leg spin of Joe Denly to make up the shortfall.
Hildreth’s 39-ball half-century was pleasing on the eye, but when he perished to a reverse sweep and when Trego’s majestic knock ended with 59 still needed, Kent looked to be in with a chance.
Adam Hose snuffed it out with an impressive 39 and a crowd of nearly 3,000 enjoyed a tremendous day of high-scoring cricket as van der Merwe and Gregory saw the hosts home.
Next in the One-Day Cup, Kent welcome Sussex and Middlesex to The Spitfire Ground this Friday and Sunday (5 & 7 May).