Claydon plays key role in home victory
Kent secured their third win of the season in Specsavers County Championship Division 2 when they beat Worcestershire by 10 wickets at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence last Saturday. After wrapping up the Worcestershire second innings for 251, Kent needed just 12 for victory which openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sean Dickson achieved in 11 balls. The game was particularly memorable for Mitch Claydon, who returned his best Kent championship figures of 5- 42 in the Worcester first innings and was then presented with his county cap before lunch on the third day. The paceman has also signed a new deal to extend his stay at the club. Sam Billings also achieved a notable milestone by becoming only the second Kent wicketkeeper to take seven catches in an innings during Worcester’s first knock. Kent totally dominated the opening day after electing to bowl first, dismissing the visitors for 211 and then reaching 55- 0 at stumps. Claydon’s 20-ball purple patch saw him bag 4-9 before Joe Clarke (69) offered the most resistance. Claydon’s figures were his best since joining from Durham in 2013 while Billings joined Steve Marsh as the only Kent keeper to have taken seven or more catches in an innings. Kent opener Dickson made 77 and Darren Stevens weighed in with 81. Will Gidman marked his Kent championship debut with an unbeaten half-century and with Coles contributing 41
P W D L Bt Bw Ps Essex ........... 11 3 6 2 39 31 148 Kent ............. 12 3 8 1 33 26 147 Leics ............ 11 3 6 2 33 27 137 Worcs ........... 11 3 6 2 33 23 134 Gloucs .......... 10 3 5 2 30 26 129 Sussex ......... 10 1 9 0 25 21 107 Northants ..... 11 1 8 2 26 21 103 Derbys ......... 12 0 9 3 27 23 95 Glamorgan ... 10 1 5 4 27 25 92 to a ninth-wicket stand of 51, Kent reached the close on day two on 397-9. Kent’s total of 451 gave them a lead of 240 but initially Worcestershire made their bowlers work hard for wickets in the second innings with openers Daryl Mitchell and George Rhodes adding 94. The introduction of Gidman started to turn the game Kent’s way. Rhodes was the first to go when he was yorked by Gidman, who also trapped Mitchell (43) leg before. The first delivery of the day’s final over, saw James Tredwell bowl Whiteley for 15 to leave the visitors 213- 6 overnight. Kent took just over an hour to wrap up the innings and move themselves up to second place in the standings with four games to play.