Crawley stakes his claim with half-centuries on tour
Cricket
Opening batsman Zak Crawley is hoping to stake a claim for a place in the Kent side when the season starts in April. Crawley, who turned 20 last week, hit his maiden List A half-century in Kent’s opening match of the Super50 series tournament in Antigua. He scored 60 off 73 balls as they were beaten by 35 runs by Guyana and then was left stranded on 99 not out in their nine-wicket win against Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Tuesday. Crawley said: “It’s great preparation for the season and if I get a few scores then hopefully I can (take) a bit of confidence into the early season. “It’s important for me to get my head down on this trip and make a claim to play in the summer.” On the innings against Guyana, Crawley added: “I thought I had a good chance to take my time and build a score. I was not particularly nervous and it was a bit easier chasing down a total. “I was just thinking we had to get off to a good start and thinking about the team. “I find it easier to start my innings against pace, especially on the wickets out here than starting against spinners, which means it’s better to open. “It was gutting to lose the game from the position we were in and all of us who got in, especially me, hold some responsibility for that. It was difficult to start in those middle overs against the spinners. “Hopefully I can learn and try and go on next time.” Allan Donald has been working with the squad in Antigua after joining as assistant coach for the 2018 season. Crawley believes he has already had a positive impact with the squad. He said: “He has brought an intensity to the squad and demands a lot from us in the field. “You can feel there is a different buzz around our fielding, which he is very keen on. “He’s had a good impact so far so hopefully we can build on that.” Alex Blake hit 74 not out as Kent won their second group match against Jamaica by four wickets. Ivan Thomas took 4-30 and Joe Denly finished with 4-35.