KENT CRICKET
Matt Walker praised Kent’s ‘ clinical’ performance to win at Glamorgan in the Specsavers County Championship.
It is now back-to-back victories on the road for Kent, who wrapped up a six-wicket Division 2 win at Cardiff on Sunday.
Matt Henry and Darren Stevens were the stars of the show on day one taking 10 wickets between them to bowl the hosts out for 94 and put their side in a strong position from the outset.
Head coach Walker said: “Overall, we played a fantastic three days of cricket and it was an extremely professional performance from start to finish.
“We came through some tests that haven’t been put our way yet this season. To bowl on a wicket that was a better wicket was always going to be a test when it came along having had a couple of bowler friendly wickets in the past two games.
“It was a bizarre first day. I thought we bowled magnificently for that 57 for no wicket (at lunch) and didn’t have much luck.
“We have seen that before and you earn your right to get your success in the following session.
“To bowl them out for 37 runs in that ( second) session was extraordinary. Everybody bowled brilliant.
“Ivan Thomas and Harry Podmore came on before lunch and kept it tight, which was crucial. The guys got their rewards in a crazy second session. Matt is bowling brilliantly and Stevo is still doing his thing. It’s the bowling unit I’m most pleased with now.”
In reply, Kent could only reach 174 to allow Glamorgan a chance of getting back into the game.
Joe Denly, fresh from his century against Pakistan, top scored with 43, while Zak Crawley made 33 and Harry Podmore ended on 33 not out.
Timm van der Gugten did the damage with the ball, taking 7-42.
Shaun Marsh led the Glamorgan fightback on Saturday with the Australian reaching 76 before being run out by Will Gidman.
Their second innings total of 274 left Kent needing 195 to win. Henry was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-59.
Walker said: “We let them back in the door a bit. An 80-run lead is good but not a matchwinning lead. It certainly gave us a nice cushion but that got eaten up pretty quickly.
“I think between 250 and 280 would have been a fair score on that wicket. They bowled well and the surface helped them on that first day.”
It was a comfortable run chase in the end with Kent reaching their target with six wickets in hand.
Heino Kuhn steered the chase, making a 69 not out and surpassing 10,000 first-class career runs in the process.
All-rounder Stevens had to be taken out of the attack during Glamorgan’s second innings on Saturday after bowling two unintentional beamers.
Skipper Joe Denly explained after that Stevens had lost a bit of skin on his thumb, which had made it awkward when bowling, and that it was a genuine slip.