Denly goes early in Kent’s last day run-chase against Derbyshire

Kent v Derbyshire LV County Championship Division 2, Day four, Canterbury.
By Mark Pennell
KENT have given themselves an outside chance of pulling off a shock last day win over Derbyshire by dismissing their nearest promotion rivals for 303 to leave themselves 318 for victory in a possible 74 overs.
By lunch the hosts had reached 33 for one, having lost Joe Denly in the second over of the pursuit, but Rob Key and Geraint Jones made it through to the interval on 20 and 10 respectively.
Denly was unfortunate to go for three when he edged an attempted drive against Steffan Jones onto his leg stump to make it seven for one.
Kent had started their second innings at 12.25 having used up a further 19 overs in taking Derbyshire“s six remaining second innings wickets as the visitors added a meagre 67 to their overnight total.
With Simon Cook and Ryan McLaren carrying slight knocks and unable to bowl, skipper Rob Key turned to Justin Kemp to open his attack at the start of the day and it proved an inspired choice as Kemp took three for 12 in five overs to double his season“s wicket-tally.
He bowled Wavell Hinds (16) with the second ball of the day when the West Indian shouldered arms to an off-cutter, then had Freddie Klokker (6) caught behind from one that lifted outside off stump.
Greg Smith (44) then chased one from Wayne Parnell to edge to the Kent keeper Geraint Jones and James Tredwell got in on the act when he got the new ball to bounce on Graham Wagg for substitute fielder Chris Piesley to take a diving, bat-pad catch at short leg.
Kemp took his third wicket when Tim Groenewald nicked a drive to become Jones“s fourth victim of the innings and Tredwell wrapped it up by having Steffan Jones caught low down at silly point by Darren Stevens.
All three results are still possible in what has proved to be a well fought game worthy of the Division 2 promotion battle.

Photo by ARPics