Match Preview: Middlesex vs. Kent
Kent head to Lord’s Cricket Ground to face Middlesex in the LV= Insurance County Championship, beginning this Thursday.
The Spitfires travel to the capital after a win, a defeat & a draw in their first three matches, buoyed by openers Ben Compton & Zak Crawley’s purple patches of form that see the pair both average above 55.00 after having scored over 275 runs apiece so far this red-ball campaign.
Australian Wes Agar took a wicket on debut as Kent only managed one innings with the ball due to rain against Essex – albeit the important wicket of Essex opener, Sir Alastair Cook. Matt Quinn & Joey Evison both have six wickets each so far this season.
Kent Spitfires’ T20 opener for 2023 is now four weeks away, against Gloucestershire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Wednesday 24 May – entry to all scheduled T20 home matches is included in Kent Cricket Memberships, on sale now.
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Last time out
The LV= Insurance match between Kent and Essex at Canterbury ended in a draw after the weather wiped out the final day.
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Kent had ended day three on 342 for seven, trailing Essex’s first innings total of 451 for five declared by 109, but a draw had always looked likely and in total 206 overs were lost across the four days.
The limited amount of cricket there was had been highly entertaining, with Nick Browne and Tom Westley scoring 159 and 148 for the visitors and Zak Crawley responding with a brilliant 170 on day three, but conditions on Sunday started badly and had no realistic prospect of improving.
Kent vs. Middlesex turns T20 in June
The Kent Spitfires will welcome Middlesex to ‘Fortress Canterbury’ in a floodlit, Friday night T20 match on 23 June.
Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment & lock in supporting your Spitfires now in an exciting Summer of white-ball cricket:
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Members do not need to pre-book their space at T20 matches as per last season – entry will be gained by scanning a valid 2023 Kent Cricket Membership card at the gate.
Live Match Centre
Middlesex vs. Kent will be live streamed & embedded into the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website. BBC Radio commentary will be synced to pictures coming via Middlesex Cricket.
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Opposition Report
Half-centuries from South African overseas batter Pieter Malan and Max Holden propelled Middlesex to an unlikely first win of the season as they chased down 249 to overcome Nottinghamshire by four wickets in a gripping finish at Lord’s last time out.
The pair both passed 50 for the first time this season, with Malan hitting 61 and Holden 53 to secure a result that had looked highly improbable after wet weather wiped out most of the first two sessions.
But Nottinghamshire opted to force the pace, declaring on their overnight total of 158 for six and setting up a 40-over pursuit more reminiscent of the Sunday League that ran in that format until 1992.
Although Stuart Broad took three wickets, Middlesex held their nerve to scramble home with six balls to spare and register their first success since returning to the top flight of the LV= Insurance County Championship.
All-rounder Ryan Higgins is Middlesex’s top run-scorer so far this campaign – his 256 runs coming at an average of 51.20, & he has also contributed nine wickets – behind seamers Ethan Bamber (10) & Toby Roland-Jones (15).
Team News
Men’s Head Coach Matt Walker has named a travelling squad of 12 to make the journey to Lord’s.
Right-arm seamer Conor McKerr has now completed his loan spell with Kent & has returned to Surrey, after both Matt Quinn & Michael Hogan were rested against Essex.
Kent’s Match Squad, presented by Black Opal Travel Group >>>
Kent’s Match Squad vs. Essex: Sam Billings (Captain), Wes Agar, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Ben Compton, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Joey Evison, Hamid Qadri, Jack Leaning, Matt Quinn, Grant Stewart.
Weather forecast
Follow Kent Cricket on Twitter to receive live updates on prospects of play should there be any delays.
Be here for every moment that matters this Summer. A Kent Cricket Membership guarantees you entry into every scheduled home match this season, without the need to pre-book tickets – starting at just £275.
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Match Previews of Kent’s LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures are proudly sponsored by FGS Plant Ltd. >>>
