LV=CC: Tredwell stars as Kent complete win over Yorkshire

Yorkshire v Kent
LV = County Championship Division One
Monday, 13 September – Thursday, 16 September 2010
Headingley, Leeds

Kent won by four wickets

Yorkshire first innings: 261 all out, 76.3 overs
Bairstow 64, Patterson 39*, Gale 39
Nel 6-62, Coles 2-68, Tredwell 1-0

Kent first innings: 302 all out, 81.5 overs
Blake 105*, van Jaarsveld 89, Denly 26
Ashraf 5-32, Rashid 2-83, Hannon-Dalby 1-36

Yorkshire second innings: 130 all out, 29.5 overs
Lyth 46, McGrath 30, Shahzad 16
Tredwell 7-22, Nel 3-57, Cook 0-15

Kent second innings: 90 for 6, 24.5 overs
Van Jaarsveld 44, Key 27, Northeast 5
Patterson 2-10, Rashid 2-41, Ashraf 1-13

All eyes will now be on what“s happening at the Rose Bowl after Kent completed a tense four-wicket victory over title chasing Yorkshire at Headingley. After being set a victory target of 90 to win the game, Kent found it tough on a pitch offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers. They were indebted to batsman Martin van Jaarsveld who followed up his first-innings 89 with a well crafted 44. Earlier in the day, James Tredwell (pictured) starred with the ball – returning figures of 7-22, including a hat-trick. In the process he became the first Kent player to take three wickets in as many balls since Martin McCague did it back in 1996 against Hampshire at Canterbury.

With play starting on time, the Tykes resumed on 51 for one and instantly made their intentions clear as the onus was on them to score quickly to set Kent a target, as well as looking to keep their own title ambitions intact. Adam Lyth and Anthony McGrath didn“t mess around in the early stages as they both regularly reached the boundary ropes. However, Scotland seamer Dewald Nel, who impressed in the first innings, soon spoilt their fun when McGrath, on thirty, could only edge a lifter to Geraint Jones behind the stumps. Yorkshire were 93 for two – a lead of 52.

Nel, who looks destined to play an integral part in Kent“s attack next season, then took his tally to eight for the game when he bowled skipper Andrew Gale via an inside edge for two. The home side were losing wickets in search of quick runs as Lyth was the next to depart for 46, bowled by Tredwell as Yorkshire stumbled to 99 for four. One ball later, four became five as the off-spinner claimed his third victim of the innings as he had Gerard Brophy stumped by Jones first ball. Tredwell was on a hat-trick and the home side were effectively 58 for five as Kent suddenly found themselves on top.

Jonathan Bairstow was the man to face the hat-trick ball and astonishingly the young batsman could only offer a catch to Nel at mid-wicket. He gleefully hung on as Tredwell celebrated a remarkable treble. Yorkshire“s title aspirations were imploding in front of their eyes. South African born Nel then heaped the pressure on further as he claimed his third wicket, by having Adil Rashid caught in the slips by Martin van Jaarsveld. Gale“s men had slumped to 188 for seven – a lead of just 77 with three wickets remaining. Kent were keeping their slim survival hopes alive despite news coming in that Warwickshire had reduced Hampshire to 32 for four at that stage.

Despite the news, Kent continued to play with pride and it didn“t take Tredwell long to twirl through the tail. Steven Patterson (two) was his next victim, as Sam Northeast took the catch. Ajmal Shahzad tried his best to launch Yorkshire to an improved position – hitting the spinner for two maximums, but he perished to Tredwell on 16, again stumped by Jones. Three balls later it was all over when Moin Ashraf edged to van Jaarsveld at slip to hand Tredwell, looking to bowl himself into Ashes contention, final figures of 7-22. Nel“s three wickets also meant he finished with match-figures of 9-119. The home side had capitulated from 93 for one to 130 all out as their title dreams went up in smoke.

Kent needed just 90 to secure the win, but in keeping with the season, there were to be a few scares on the way as soon enough they were reduced to six for two with both openers Sam Northeast (lbw to Shahzad for five) and Joe Denly (lbw to Ashraf for on) back in the pavilion. The top-order wobble was alleviated though as Key and van Jaarsveld settled down proceedings and put the St Lawrence outfit back on the victory trail, as the visitors went into lunch on 49 for two.

After the break, Yorkshire took four wickets in quick succession as Adil Rashid and Steven Patterson threatened to turn the game on its head again but van Jaarsveld offered stiff resistance. The 36 year-old hit three boundaries and two sixes in his 44 from 71 balls, before he was fifth man out with the score on 82. Alex Blake, who scored a sparkling unbeaten century in the first innings, followed just two balls later before Stevens and Tredwell saw Kent through to a nervy victory.

Picture:Sarah Ansell