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THE TWENTY20 CUP: ESSEXEAGLESv KENTSPITFIRES
01 June at The Ford County Ground, Chelmsford

Essex beat Kent by 36 runs

Essex won the toss and decided to bat

Essex Eagles innings: 205 for 4 (20.0 overs)
Cook 77, Flower 61, Pettini 40
Tredwell 1 for 33, Mahmood 1 for 41, McLaren 1 for 50

Kent Spitfires innings:169 for 7 (20.0 overs)
van Jaarsveld 33, Denly 32, Jones 26
Flower 3 for 26, Kaneria 2 for 37, Masters 1 for 27

THE Kent Spitfires suffered their first defeat of the Twenty20 season with a 36-run reverse against the Essex Eagles at Chelmsford. After winning the toss, Eagles skipper Mark Pettini elected to bat and it proved the right decision. Pettini (40) shared an opening stand with Alastair Cook before the England batsman was joined by Zimbabwean Grant Flower. The duo put on a crucial second wicket partnership of 89 and arguably took the game away from Kent. Cook top scored with 77 but it was a glittering knock of 61 from Flower that rightly earned him the man-of-the-match award. The veteran all-rounder hit ten fours and one six in his 30-ball knock to guide the Eagles to 205 for four from their 20 overs. James Tredwell was the pick of the Spitfires attack with one for 33 from his four overs. There were also wickets for Ryan McLaren and Azhar Mahmood.

Kent“s reply got off to the worst possible start with the early dismissal of James Hockley. Everyone else then seemed to get in but failed to really stamp their authority. Skipper Martin van Jaarsveld (pictured)top-scored with 33, Joe Denly hit 32 and there were scores of 26 for Geraint Jones and 25 for Darren Stevens. It was an entertaining knock from Stevens who hit three big sixes in his 13-ball stay. Flower showed his all-round capabilities with three wickets and two catches as Kent reached 169 for seven from their 20 overs under the Ford County Ground floodlights.

The Spitfires are back in action on Thursday evening when they play The Sussex Sharks under the lights at Hove. The game gets underway at ten-past-seven.

Picture courtesy of www.arpics.co.uk