Match Reports: Kent Second XI vs. Reliance Cricket Club
Kent’s Second XI lost both their T20 friendly matches, against the Mumbai-based touring side Reliance Cricket, at The County Ground, Beckenham, with the visitors including India international players, and others who regularly feature in the Indian Premier League.
The Reliance Club are in England on a 20-day trip, and have more matches scheduled against, Sussex, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Durham, before returning home to India.
Kent Seconds lost the first match by 10 wickets, after Reliance comfortably chased down their winning target, without losing a wicket, after the home side had scored 144 for 8 from their 20 overs. Tawanda Muyeye top scored with 47, with five boundaries and two sixes, and Ollie Robinson, who captained the side, hit 30.
Three of the Reliance Club bowlers, captain and Test match player Jaydev Unadkat, Gurnoor Brar and Pawan Negi all took two wickets apiece.
The Reliance opening partnership of Amolpreet Singh and Aryan Juyal had an unbroken stand as they secured their sides win 145 for 0, in 16.4 overs.
Singh, who plays for Mumbai, in the Indian Premier League, was 81 not out, with nine fours and three sixes, and Juyal 51 not out, with five boundaries.
Reliance played a completely different eleven in the second match, but still with plenty of experience in their ranks, and they ran out winners by 46 runs.
Batting first they scored 165 for 9 from their 20 overs, Rahal Buddhi, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderbad, was 52 not out at the end of their innings. Kent’s young fast bowler, Jas Singh took 3 for 39, and trialist, Barnaby Fitch, who has previously played for Somerset’s Second team, 2 for 34.
After a promising start to their victory chase, which saw Kent Seconds reach 82 for 3 at the halfway point, the innings then disintegrated, as they lost six wickets for 13 runs, slumping to 95 for 9 before a late flourish from George Ealham, 23, took them to 119 all out in 19.4 overs.
Muyeye, experiencing his first opportunity to skipper the side, scored 31 and Joe Gordon hit 28. Kartikeya Singh’s slow left arm wrist spin proved too much for the Kent batters, as he took 4 for 13 in four overs.
The Second XI have an away Championship match against Surrey Seconds, at the LSE Ground, New Malden, starting on Monday 18 July.
By Peter Burrowes
