Patient approach reaps reward

Darren Stevens says patience was the key for the bowlers as Kent chalked up their fourth consecutive win in the Specsavers County Championship Division 2. The 42-year-old took seven wickets and scored a halfcentury to help Kent to a threewicket win over Middlesex at Lord’s. The match finished in the morning session on the third day as Kent boosted their promotion chances going into the final two games. Stevens said: “We looked at the pitch on the first morning and I suggested batting and playing a spinner, given they’ve got lots of left-handers and nobody has chased over 200 here for a while. “But it’s an early September start ,so we went against that and the boys bowled nicely. “We got a bit carried away and went searching for the wickets. We got the seven wickets by doing what we do and being patient. “I think it’s a little bit twopaced. Bowlers who kissed the pitch got more out of it. If you looked to smash (it into) the pitch it stuck a little bit. We were lucky this morning with a few lbws which kept low.” Kent used the uncontested toss to put Middlesex into bat on the first morning and enjoyed early success with the ball. The home side were reduced to 80-7 as Stevens (4-44) and Harry Podmore (3-35) did the damage. The final three pairings put on 81, with James Fuller finishing 37 not out, as Middlesex reached 161. Kent had their own troubles with the bat and were reduced to 53-6 with Fuller taking 4-49. Stevens (64) and Grant Stewart (63) hit half-centuries in Kent’s 192 all out for a first-innings lead of 31. Stevens said: “For me, I was trying to keep it as simple as I can. It was nice to play on a pitch that came on. A lot of the pitches we’ve played on this season have been nibbly and not really come onto the bat. It was nice to have a bit of a pace. “I reckon I got the better end of the ball as it was a little bit older, it was a bit easier for me and harder with the newer ball for the boys up front. It was nice to put a partnership on.” Matt Henry claimed 4-40 and three wickets each for Stevens (3-46) and Podmore (3-35) saw Middlesex all out for 186 in their second innings to set Kent a target of 156. Heino Kuhn top scored with 39 as Kent won by three wickets. Kent’s next match is at home to Glamorgan, which starts on Tuesday.