Spinners strike before Sussex salvage draw at Tunbridge Wells
Wednesday 20th July 2016
Kent spinners Imran Qayyum and James Tredwell shared five wickets as Sussex batted patiently to secure a draw in the Specsavers County Championship at Tunbridge Wells.
Skipper Sam Northeast shook hands with five overs remaining in an enthralling encounter at the Nevill Ground after enforcing the follow-on at the start of the final day.
Click here to buy tickets and save on gate prices
Left-armer Qayyum took 2/80 in 25 overs on his home debut and Tredwell claimed 3/76 in 30 tidy overs.
The Kent captain rotated his bowlers with the new ball without reward. Kagiso Rabada induced several false strokes from the openers and had a couple of strong LBW appeals before spin found the breakthrough.
Chris Nash picked out Northeast at short extra cover off the bowling of Qayyum, before the same bowler removed Luke Wells caught-and-bowled.
Harry Finch scored his second Championship 50 and found good support in New Zealander Ross Taylor, who followed his beligerent unbeaten century with a half-century in a 50 stand with the youngster.
Tredwell removed both men, Finch caught by Alex Blake at silly point before Taylor succumbed, picking Denly out in the deep.
The experienced spinner then claimed a third as Sussex skipper Luke Wright was trapped LBW before the visitors secured a share of the points with Kent taking 11 points from the match and Sussex eight.
Speaking after the match, Northeast said: “After all that effort and our bowlers sending down well over 200 overs in the past two days you want to win, but they were such tough conditions.
“To bowl them out for 333 was a seriously good effort, but knowing The Nevill Ground as we do it stays pretty true, the top doesn’t break up and it remains a pretty good pitch throughout."