Kent secure superb win on final day
Kent defeated Nottinghamshire inside two sessions to land an impressive 285-run win on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship match at The Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells, sponsored by Charles Stanley’s Tunbridge Wells branch.
Having set the East Midlands’ county a tough victory target of 406, Kent set about securing a win against the first division’s basement side inside 60 overs to land their second win in the Specsavers County Championship this summer. Kent banked 22 points, while Nottinghamshire took away five.
Kent had many stand-out performances, including Harry Podmore, the former Middlesex seamer, securing his five-fer for 41 return, and Ollie Rayner, the off-spinner making his Kent debut after agreeing a three-month loan from the same county, also playing a key role with a mid-afternoon stint of 16-12-13-2.
At the day’s start, Kent batted on for nine overs to add a further 86 to their overnight total of 277 for three.
Joe Denly pressed the run-rate accelerator from the off, clattering another 56 off only 30 balls, with five sixes and three fours to finish unbeaten on 167 from his 273 minutes at the crease overall.
He lost Heino Kuhn for 42, bowled by off-spinner Matt Carter, and Ollie Robinson, well caught at backward point for just a single as Kent’s dash for runs stumbled, albeit briefly.
Kent’s declaration left them 90 minutes and two full sessions to dismiss the visitors, but they duly wrapped up the win by tea with Podmore to the fore.
Ben Duckett, the former England left-hander, lauded for his aggressive batting, received a life with his score on 15 when Zak Crawley spilled a low chance at third slip off Podmore. Yet, the opportunity cost only 10 runs as Duckett chased another full one outside off stump to be caught behind.
Four overs later, Podmore removed the experienced Chris Nash to a fine low catch by keeper Robinson, diving to his right then, five balls later, the bowler snared Joe Clarke leg before for a duck, after a late and ill-judged decision to shoulder arms.
Grant Stewart took over at the Railway End and struck with his 14th delivery by having Samit Patel caught at square cover off a leaden-footed and imprudent back-foot force that left Nottinghamshire in trouble on 56 for four at lunch.
Kent’s dominance continued in the mid-session as Ollie Rayner, the Middlesex loanee, held court from the Railway End with a tenacious spell, the last five overs of which were maidens.
Rayner took his maiden wicket for Kent by turning one away from Ben Slater and feathering the edge for a catch behind. The off-spinner also had James Pattinson caught in the gulley from an over-ambitious drive.
Wiaan Mulder chipped in with the wicket of visiting skipper Steven Mullaney, leg before to a yorker, then Podmore and Grant Stewart, with two for 13, returned to polish the job off.
Credit: ECB Reporters’ Network
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