Kent bowlers dominate on day one
Thursday 12th April 2012
Matt Coles, Charlie Shreck and Darren Stevens took three wickets apiece as Kent dominated the first day of their LV= County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
Northamptonshire were bowled out before tea for a paltry 132, with Alex Wakely top-scoring with 33 and Coles taking the best figures of three for 32.
A partnership of 83 between West Indies international Brendan Nash and Ben Harmison, 40 not out and 46 respectively, then helped Kent to 127 for three at the close.
Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat but they lost opener Rob Newton for just seven in the fifth over when he edged Mark Davies to James Tredwell at first slip. It was slow going for Northamptonshire during a chilly morning session and Stephen Peters (15) was the next batsman back in the pavilion after being trapped lbw by Coles.
Scotland international Kyle Coetzer crawled to 11 off 60 balls before he fell cheaply by smashing Shreck to Nash at cover. Captain David Sales was to perish on 13 in the penultimate over before lunch when his edge off Shreck was superbly taken at second slip by Tredwell diving low to his right.
Shreck then picked up his third wicket in the ninth over of the afternoon when he pinned Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien lbw for 12. James Middlebrook (three) threw his wicket away when he launched Coles high into the air and Kent captain Rob Key took the catch at mid-wicket.
Former Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas lasted just three balls without scoring before he became Stevens' first victim when he nudged him to former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. Wakely then fell to Stevens, caught leg before, and the same man bowled Lee Daggett two balls later.
The innings was brought to an end when David Willey, who provided some resistance with 24, was well caught by Davies at square leg off Coles. In reply, Kent lost Key (seven) in the eighth over when he was trapped lbw by Brooks and Scott Newman followed for 26 two overs later when he slashed Brooks to Middlebrook at gully.
Harmison reached his 46 off just 64 balls, including seven fours, before he ran himself out when he was sent back by Nash after a Brooks delivery and Willey threw a direct hit at the stumps from point. Nash then survived the remaining four overs with night-watchman Davies (two not out) to ensure their side will start in a great position on Friday.
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Photo: Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com