Kent tie with Sussex in Hove thriller

Sam Billings and Jimmy Neesham hit half-centuries in a century stand as Kent tied with Sussex in a dramatic NatWest T20 Blast at Hove.

After heavy downpours in the interval, the Sussex reply was reduced to an eight-over slog in soggy conditions, resulting in Kent’s third ever tie in 20-over cricket.

After winning the toss and electing to field, the Sussex pace attack caused Kent early problems after Daniel Bell-Drummond was caught by Luke Wright off Jofra Archer.

Joe Denly and Sam Northeast played positively scoring at more than a run-a-ball in tricky conditions with steady drizzle falling for much of the innings.

Both men were caught behind, off the bowling of Tymal Mills and George Garton respectively.

Billings and Neesham took some time to play themselves before adding 102 in exactly 10 overs.

It equalled Kent’s record fourth-wicket partnership in T20s, an unbroken stand held by Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens at Southampton in 2009.

Billings drove England colleague Chris Jordan to David Wiese with two balls remaining for 64 off 42 balls, his best T20 score in Kent colours.

Neesham hit two sixes off the final two balls for six over fine leg and long leg as Kent posted 176 for four.

After more than an hour of rain, the umpires deemed play possible with Sussex set a target of 88 off eight overs.

Chris Nash started in style hitting the first three balls from Matt Coles for eleven to get the hosts ahead of the asking rate.

Nash flicked Coles’ first ball over mid wicket for four and then lifted the second ball of the innings over the legside ropes for six. Later in the over, Wright pulled Coles for six, but in the second over he was caught for 8 at long on attempting another big hit at Neesham.

Ross Taylor soon followed, chipping a return catch to medium-pacer Calum Haggett, but Nash effortlessly lofted Imran Qayyum’s left arm spin high over extra cover for six in the fourth over.

In the next, Claydon’s first, 18 runs were harvested as Nash twice swung him over mid-wicket for six before Evans square drove for four.

A Coles full toss was smashed over square leg for six by Evans, in an otherwise tidy sixth over, leaving Sussex to score 20 from the last two.

In a remarkable seventh over, Nash pulled a Neesham full toss for six off the first ball but was then perplexed by the next four deliveries – a mixture of slower ones and fast, short-pitched balls – before carving the final ball over Blake’s head at long on for another six.

That blow looked to have sealed the game for Sussex with only eight required from the final over.

Evans hit the first ball for two to long on and, after Claydon sent down a wide and then a dot ball, there were three singles as the fast bowler held his nerve amid mounting tension.

That left Nash needing two to win, and one to tie, from the last ball – which he drove towards Blake at long on. The fielder sprinted in to pick up and throw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.

A diving Evans just failed to make the crease and Blake wheeled away, his arm raised in triumph, before being surrounded by his celebrating teammates.

Nash’s unbeaten 50 took him just 25 balls, with six sixes and one four.

Grabbing the tie was certainly to Kent’s credit, and particularly to Claydon’s as his first over had earlier been despatched for 18 runs and his second conceded just seven when Sussex were firm favourites with eight wickets in hand.

Speaking after the match, Claydon said: “It was pretty tough bowling that last over with only eight to win. I don’t think any previous over in the Sussex innings went for less than eight – I just had to try and get my yorkers in and managed to keep doing that.

“I was glad Alex Blake’s throw off the last ball hit the stumps because it picked up pace when it bounced so I was glad I didn’t have to field it!

“So it feels a little like we got out of jail with a tie but I think both sides will be quite happy. We batted really well before the rain – Sam (Billings) and Jimmy (Neesham) really accelerated to get us to a good score on that wicket.”

Next, Kent Spitfires play Somerset on Thursday (27 July, 7pm) at The Spitfire Ground.