Kent second best for the first time

Daniel Bell-Drummond revealed Kent’s disappointment after they tasted defeat for the first time this season as Hampshire won by six wickets in the opening Royal London One-Day Cup game.

An unbeaten century from opener Tom Alsop guided the visitors to victory with 29 balls to spare at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, last Thursday after Kent had posted 258 all-out having made a bright start after being asked to bat first.

Darren Stevens led the way once again with 60 but it was not enough to trouble the visitors.

Bell-Drummond, who hit 56, admitted: “It was a tough start for us and we’re disappointed to lose the first one.”

He and Joe Denly’s promising white-ball opening partnership from last summer continued to blossom, the pair compiling 94 for the opening wicket in 15 overs.

Denly fell to Liam Dawson (2- 41) for 46 from 45 balls while his replacement Sean Dickson followed him back three balls before the midpoint after a less fluid 20 from 35 deliveries.

Bell-Drummond departed at the end of the 26th over to make it 131-3 and Kent struggled to get any momentum thereafter.

Sam Northeast (17), Alex Blake (9) and Wayne Parnell (3) didn’t linger as Kent slipped to 194- 6 but Stevens dragged them past 200 and got his 46th List A half-century with three sixes.

Adam Rouse (12) and Matt Coles (1) couldn’t stay with Stevens who eventually holedout to James Vince for 60 from 57 balls to become one of three scalps for Reece Topley (3- 65).

James Tredwell made the most of the 16 remaining balls to finish 19 not out while Mitch Claydon went for six as Kent were out with two balls left.

Bell Drummond added: “We got off to a good start battingwise through myself and Joe, but their bowlers pegged us back nicely with their two spinners showing up well in the middle. We felt 260 was at least 20 runs short of where we needed to be.”

The reply began in perfect fashion for the hosts as Parnell trapped Michael Carberry leg before with the second ball of the first over, however fellow opener Alsop proved an altogether different proposition.

He added 112 in 16 overs with Vince, 35 of them coming from four Matt Coles overs, before Vince was trapped by Stevens for a fine 69 from 50 balls.

Alsop reached his half-century in 61 balls and despite Claydon accounting for Dawson (19) and Jimmy Adams (22), the opener was joined by Sean Ervine (33 not out). The pair added 82 for the fifth wicket and guided their side home with Alsop reaching his second List A ton on his way to 112 not out, featuring 12 fours.

Kent host Sussex at Canterbury tomorrow (Friday) and Middlesex on Sunday (both 11am).