Kent v Gloucestershire: Dickson opens batting on home debut
Monday 14th September 2015
Sean Dickson and Joe Denly survived a tricky short session in Kent’s final match of the LV= County Championship season against Gloucestershire.
Daniel Bell-Drummond was the sole casualty of a rain restricted play to just 15 overs in Canterbury with Kent on 67 for one at stumps with Dickson on 31 not out and Denly unbeaten on nine.
Play finally got underway at 5pm, when the visitors elected to bowl after winning the delayed toss and within five minutes match umpires David Millns and Paul Baldwin asked for the floodlights to go on.
However, high wind speeds prevented use of the retractable masts at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence under health and safety regulations and Kent were made to bat on.
Despite the blowy and gloomy conditions, Kent opener Daniel Bell-Drummond made a breezy start by taking four early boundaries; two steers through third man, a clip through backward square and a crisp off drive all off the bowling of David Payne.
At the other end, Dickson, the 24-year-old making his home debut, required 17 balls before getting off the mark with a steer for two through square leg.
Bell-Drummond (22) departed when his late decision to shoulder arms at an in-ducker from left-arm quick bowler Payne left him susceptible to the lbw shout that immediately followed to make it 24 for one.
To Bell-Drummond’s chagrin, the other players followed him off for a seven-minute break for yet another shower and the loss of a further over’s play.
Dickson re-emerged after the interval and, in tandem with Joe Denly batted out the final eight overs of the without any further alarm.
There had been no play in the opening two sessions at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence after overnight rain and blustery morning showers delayed the start for six-and-a-half hours.