Kent suffer first defeat of the season
Sunday 20th May 2012
Kent Spitfireswere beaten by four wickets in their first home Clydesdale Bank 40 match of the season.
Glenn Querl starred with ball and bat to take the Unicorns to their first win of the Clydesdale Bank 40 season with an over to spare at Canterbury. The Zimbabwe-born all-rounder followed up best figures of four for 41 with an unbeaten 24 from 21 balls to see Unircorns to victory in the Group C clash.
Having played out a maiden from Matt Coles to leave the Unicorns needing 33 from four overs he went on to hit four boundaries in seven balls to make Kent pay for a self-destructive batting effort.
The experienced Keith Parsons played with calm composure to finish unbeaten on 46, guiding the ECB recreational side to a notable scalp. This is Kent's first competitive defeat this season.
The pattern was set as early as the ninth ball of the Kent innings, when Sam Billings played across the line to be bowled by Querl. Alex Blake then miscued a pull to Steven Cheetham at mid-on to become Querl's second victim.
Rob Key, was third out at 41 when he was lured down the pitch in slow left-armer Luke Beaven's first over and was stumped by Tom New. In Beaven's next over Darren Stevens tried to hit over the top and fell to a low catch by Luis Reece at mid-on.
A stand of 50 in 14 overs between Brendan Nash and Sam Northeast brought some stability to the Kent innings before Nash was run out for 26 attempting a risky second run to James Campbell at long leg.
Kentmight have struggled to reach 150 but for a responsible 69 off 94 balls from Northeast, who was run out in the final over of the innings.
Off-spinner James Tredwell made a much-needed breakthrough for Kent in the 10th over of the Unicorns reply when he dismissed Michael Thornely, Geraint Jones sprinting from behind the stumps to scoop the ball up in the vacant short-leg position. Jones also caught James Ord as he tried to angle medium-pacer Adam Ball down to third man.
The same combination accounted for Campbell when he top-edged an attempted hook in Ball's next over, but Tom New and Parsons brought the Unicorns closer to their target in a stand of 49 in 12 overs before New chipped Tredwell to Alex Blake at mid-wicket.
The Unicorns were still well placed needing 54 from 10 overs, but Tredwell, who finished with four for 24, gave Kent fresh hope with two wickets in successive balls.
Click here for the interview with Kent Man of the Match, Sam Northeast
Photo: Sarah Ansell SarahCanterbury.com