Harris burst wraps up Sussex win
James Harris claimed four wickets as Kent completed a Specsavers County Championship double against Sussex at Tunbridge Wells.
The 147-run win was confirmed after lunch on the final day when the Welshman trapped Jofra Archer and Danny Briggs LBW after bowling David Wiese in the first session.
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Harris’s superb spell at the Pavilion end was aided and abetted by Matt Coles from the Railway end with the rhododendrons in full bloom.
Sam Northeast’s unbeaten side, who have not lost to Sussex in their last seven meetings, required 43.4 overs to mop up the last four Sussex wickets and secure their fourth win of the season.
Kent were made to wait 39 minutes for their first breakthough when Harris rushed one past the outside edge of David Wiese (34) to uproot off stump as the right-hander prodded from the crease in defence.
The Kent firebrand had his man four runs later though, trapping Burgess lbw with a darting off-cutter to end the Sussex keeper’s 252-minute vigil and send the visitors into lunch eight down.
After a short shower during the interval and the loss of five overs, Kent resumed to strike with the second delivery. Jofra Archer (27) moved back and across his stumps aiming to leg, only to miss a full delivery from James Harris and cause umpire Steve Gale to raise the finger for lbw.
Vernon Philander continued to frustrate his former county into the mid-session by moving to his season’s first championship half-century from 69 balls and with seven fours and a six.
Harris then bagged his fourth wicket of the innings to remove last man Danny Briggs lbw for 18. The tail-ender swished to the leg-side to be sent packing by umpire Gale.
Philander was unbeaten with 73 but deserved winners Kent banked 23 points. Sussex, who have now lost three of their four games, banked only three points.
Kent captain Sam Northeast said: “Sussex battled really hard second time around and I felt taking new-ball wickets was the key for us. Stevens and Coles bowled excellent spells for us yesterday and through there were times when we didn’t look like getting wickets we kept grinding away. hoping something would happen, and eventually it all worked out.
“We’ve got good variety in the attack right now with Joe Denly’s leg-spin talking it away from the right-handers withe ‘Tredders’ bringing it the other way. Joe has earned the right to feel part of the bowling attack now.
“The pitch had a little more carry than last year but, as a batter you’d like to play here more times than not. So to take 20 wickets was a seriously good effort.”