Three centuries inspire Second XI win
A thrilling six-wicket Second XI Championship victory over Middlesex was just reward for an excellent all-round performance by Kent Second XI.
The match at Radlett CC included three Kent centuries from Marcus O Riordan, Ben Compton and Sam Burgess, and an impressive bowling performance by Australian paceman Jared Lysaught, with an eight-wicket match haul.
It completed the perfect double winning-day for Kent Cricket after the first teams five wicket victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval earlier in the afternoon.
After bowling Middlesex out for 252 in their second innings, with Lysaught taking 4 for 45, Kent, who had a first innings lead of 21, required 232 to win in 50 overs and got home with 25 deliveries to spare, finishing on 234/4.
The victory was set up by a second innings century from opener Sam Burgess, with 104 runs from 101 balls with 15 fours and one six, and when he was ou,t Kent needed 64 off 11.5 overs for victory. An unbeaten 66-run partnership between Lysaught (40) and Academy youngster Sam Smith (39) ensured the win was comfortably negotiated.
Middlesex had declared their first innings on 299 for 9, with Lysaught, who plays for Folkestone in the Kent League, taking 4 for 48. When Kent batted first time round they declared their innings on 320/6.
There were two brilliant centuries from Ben Compton and Marcus O’Riordan, who both each scored exactly 100 and they enjoyed a 188 run partnership in 40 overs. Compton took the anchor role with his century coming off 180 balls with 12 fours.
O’Riordan, who plays for Tunbridge Wells, was captaining the side for the first time and his 123 ball ton included 16 fours.
The two sides meet today (Thursday) at Radlett in two T20 matches.
Peter Burrowes
England Lions will face a touring Australian Test warm-up side at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence from this Sunday, as the visitors gear up for the 2019 Specsavers Ashes Series against England.
Kent’s Zak Crawley has been selected as part of the Lions squad for this fixture at his home ground.
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