Northeast hits century as Kent take first-innings lead on day 3
Tuesday 2nd September 2014
A second century of the season by Sam Northeast and a 50 from Glamorgan's Gareth Rees kept a close-fought clash in the balance on day three of the LV= Championship Division 2 clash.
Glamorgan closed on 150 for three, effectively 92 ahead, as Kent push for a win to keep up their outside chance of promotion.
Earlier, the visitors' rookie spinner Kieran Bull was proved the pick of the bowlers with four for 62.
Kent, resuming on 205 for four and trailing by 124 on first innings, received an early setback when Darren Stevens departed for 30.
Stevens aimed an uppercut over the slips against the second new ball but edged a third catch through to Glamorgan’s keeper-captain Mark Wallace.
It proved Kent’s only loss of the session as the hosts added 108 in the morning session as Northeast and Sam Billings joined forces.
The sixth-wicket partners both passed 50s; Northeast from 128 balls, Billings from only 86 balls and with six fours as the duo edged Kent beyond the Glamorgan total soon after lunch.
They added 151 in 38.1 overs – Kent’s second highest partnership of the championship summer – before Billings, on 77, slog-swept one from Bull into the hands of David Lloyd at deep mid-wicket to make it 369 for six.
With spin at both ends, Kent suddenly got into difficulty. Bull snared Mitchell Claydon lbw in his next over then Northeast, having posted his century from 197 balls, with nine fours and a six, departed for 102.
Advancing down the pitch, the wily Dean Cosker saw him coming and dropped it short to have the Kent bat caught cutting at backward point.
The Welsh spin combo made light work of the tail thereafter, Bull claiming three for seven in 39 balls in his post-lunch stint to finish with four for 62 on his four-day bow. Cosker bagged two for 53 as Kent succumbed on the cusp of tea for 387, for a modest first innings lead of 58.
In the second innings, Kent’s quest started spectacularly when Claydon broke Will Bragg’s off stump in two with one that jagged back down the Nackington Road slope to make it seven for one.
Jacques Rudolph, propping half forward and outside the line of a Stevens’ off-cutter, departed lbw with his side still 17 behind.
With 100 on the board and their noses 42 ahead, Glamorgan lost a third wicket when first innings century-maker Chris Cooke edged behind when aiming a back foot punch against Robbie Joseph.
Gareth Rees (73 not out) held firm thereafter, scoring his first championship 50 since the last week in April from 91 balls including six fours and a six.