Seconds defeated at Beckenham
Despite some promising individual performances, Kent’s Second XI were beaten by 269 runs by Durham in their four-day Championship match at The County Ground, Beckenham.
Kent were in fact the away side, but the game was switched to Beckenham, because Durham did not have a second ground apart from their Emirates headquarters that was COVID secure in order for them to play this game at home.
Durham Second XI batted after winning the toss, and were bowled out in their first innings for 170 runs, Jack Burnham 52. There was some excellent bowling from Kent’s Academy scholar, Jas Singh, who took 4 for 33 and Bailey Wightman, who plays for Tunbridge Wells, in the Kent League, had figures of 3 for 30.
Durham took a first innings lead of 26, after dismissing Kent for 144, Tawanda Muyeye top scored with 10 boundaries in his 56, and Jack Campbell took 5 for 20.
Durham took control of the game with a strong second innings score of 340 for 9 declared, thanks to an excellent century, 143, with nine boundaries from Tom MacIntosh, and 69 from Cameron Steel. Bickley Park’s Kent League all-rounder Elliot Hooper took 5 for 70.
Set 367 to win, Kent Seconds were always up against it after losing early wickets, and slumped to 97 all out, Jack Campbell 3 for 49, Neil Killeen 3 for 16.
Kent’s batting was also hampered by the absence of Muyeye, who was called up for the first team’s LV= Insurance County Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford to replace Zak Crawley, who was selected for the revised England One-Day side for the series against Pakistan.
There will be no Second XI cricket played for around six weeks whilst The Hundred and Royal London Cup matches are taking place.
Kent Second XI return to action with a four day Championship match against Hampshire at Folkestone, starting on Monday, August 23.
By Peter Burrowes
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