Match Report: Essex vs. Kent
Kent travel to Chelmsford to take on neighbours Essex in a two-day friendly match as preparations continue for the 2021 season.
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Day Two Report:
As temperatures soared in the east of England, Kent’s bowlers were given their sternest pre-season test yet in Chelmsford, with Essex having their turn to bat all day.
Kent struck early with Harry Podmore dismissing Sir Alastair Cook for 10, but good batting from Nick Browne gave Essex an anchor to work from – Browne still looking to play aggressively.
The Lunch break arrived after the single scalp for Kent with Essex on 115/1, but Fred Klaassen was able to provide a wicket early in the afternoon session: Tom Westley inside edged to Ollie Robinson with the gloves, taking a good diving catch to his left, dismissing the Essex batsman for 40.
Podmore then struck again, sending newly-capped England batsman Dan Lawrence back to the pavilion for 21, with an unquestionable LBW decision to make for the umpire.
As Browne looked to push towards his century before the Tea break, he swiped at a Marcus O’Riordan off-spinner, holing out to Jack Leaning at third man on 97, signalling the second interval on the final day.
Heading back out on 194/4 now, Essex’s duo of Paul Walter and Ryan ten Doeschate initially looked to up the hosts’ scoring rate in the final session of the friendly, pushing the run rate up to around 3.50 an over.
This method proved to be the undoing of ten Doeschate, heaving at a Matt Milnes delivery to feather behind to Robinson for 19.
Walter, however, was able to keep scoring as the day dragged on, reaching 50 runs from 114 deliveries.
Essex finished Day Two on 299/5 – Kent’s final away friendly match of 2021.
Worcestershire will be the visitors to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence for Kent’s final friendly match on Friday and Saturday this week.
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Day One Report:
In weather more expected during the season itself than in March, Kent took the option of batting first as their second two-day friendly of 2021 came against tough opposition in Essex.
Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jordan Cox once again took on the hosts’ new-ball attack – on a pitch that showed variable bounce despite good overhead conditions.
The bounce got the better of Cox who again showed determination against the new ball, who was bowled by Allison attempting to leave the ball for 9 from 52 deliveries.
Bell-Drummond looked to continue his good form shown in our first friendly at Middlesex by reaching his second half century in as many matches from 77 balls, but lost partner Zak Crawley LBW to Shane Snater for 2 runs, leaving Kent on 42/2.
Good fightback from Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning took Kent up to 82/2 at Lunch, and reached a 50 partnership not soon after the interval.
Into the afternoon session, the pair’s partnership passed the 100-run mark – the first time a Kent batting duo has done so this season, as Essex turned to spin to try and break Kent’s third-wicket stand.
As batting conditions seemed to ease, Leaning passed 50 runs after 89 deliveries. His eight fours on the way to a half century included some excellently times sweep shots against Essex’s spinners.
Kent’s new Vice-Captain Bell-Drummond then reached his first three figure score of the season in style, dramatically slog-sweeping Tom Westley for six when on 95, retiring ‘out’ straight away on 101. His partnership with Jack Leaning ended after a 138-run stand, and we was clapped off the field by both his teammate and opponents.
Reaching 180/3 at Tea, Kent lost Ollie Robinson 15 minutes into the evening session adjudged out LBW by Matt Quinn. With Kent scheduled to bat all day, Zak Crawley returned to the crease to form the visitors’ fifth wicket partnership alongside Leaning, who then also retired out after 189 minutes in the middle, totalling 57 from 127.
Returning to bat for a second time was Jordan Cox, who looked much more assured in his game after his earlier foray, finishing the day on 36 not out.
Crawley ended his second stint, also not out, with 30 runs, including two fours and one six.
Kent finished the day on 270/5.
After batting all day on Day One, tomorrow will see Kent’s bowlers given valuable overs before the start of the 2021 LV= Insurance County Championship next weekend.
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