Match Preview: Leicestershire v Kent LV= CC, 28 – 31 August

Monday 27th August 2012

Men’s First Team

Leicestershire v Kent, LV= County Championship Division Two

Grace Road, Leicester, 28 August – 31 August 2012 –midday start on Day One

Kent must recover quickly from their CB40 exit as they travel to Leicestershire this week, in an attempt to keep their LV= CC division two promotion aspirations alive.

The Invicta County have three four-day fixtures left this season and their number one target of promotion is still a possibility. Rob Key’s men currently sit in fourth position in division two – 19 points behind second placed Hampshire although Kent have a game in hand. This week, Leicestershire are the opponents and they are in seventh place.

The two sides last met at Canterbury, back in May, and Kent will be looking for a repeat performance and outcome this time as they cruised to a thumping innings and 279 run win in the early stages of the season. The bowlers were the stars on day one for the hosts as they bundled out the Foxes for just 141. Matt Coles bagged five victims and Charlie Shreck and Darren Stevens shared the others as Kent took full control. That control was then well and truly powered home as Mike Powell struck a first century for the Club to help them pile up 533. He hit 134 and was well supported by Key (85), Brendan Nash (76) and James Tredwell (87) as the visitors found life tough in the field. Leicestershire were then blown away again in their second innings as Stevens added four more wickets to his match haul to see off the side from the East Midlands for a paltry 113. Tredwell supplied fine support; returning figures of 3-38.

Last week Leicestershire dented Hampshire’s promotion charge by sealing a 126 run victory at Grace Road while Kent’s last outing against Gloucestershire was ruined by rain, with only 92 overs possible over the four days – meaning a draw was the inevitable outcome.

After this week’s fixture, Kent welcome table-topping Derbyshire to the St Lawrence Ground next week and finish their campaign with a trip to Wales to take on Glamorgan – that match starts on 11 September. With three to play, head coach Jimmy Adams will be hoping for a strong end to the season and hopefully seal a return to first division cricket.

Team news to follow.