Kentish Express Ashford & District
Setback Lord’s for dream promotion ended bid
Skipper Rob Key pulled no punches after Kent’s six-wicket defeat against Warwickshire in the semi-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup at Edgbaston on Thursday night.
Key won the toss and chose to bat first but the Spitfires fell well below a par target, 215-8 from 50 overs, on a fine track and were comfortably beaten.
The opener admitted: “We were poor with the bat. I thought it was a fantastic pitch, there was something in it for everyone – a brilliant one-day wicket.
“But what did we have? 20, 20, 30, 3 – it’s shocking really, that sort of scorecard.”
Skipper Rob Key (23) was first to go, skying a delivery from Boyd Rankin – who was to cause the Spitfires all kinds of trouble – with Jeetan P a t e l taking the catch to leave Kent 43-1 after 11 overs.
Sam Northeast made a steady 31 but dollied a Rankin ball straight back to the bowler as Kent slipped to 62-2 and Ben Harmison followed him back to the pavilion after a lessthan-fluid 21 to start the 23rd over, leaving the Spitfires on 84-3.
The recalled Brendan Nash and Fabian Cowdrey set about steadying the innings but with Kent having sought a total approaching 300, and well below the run-rate, they bowed to pressure with Nash running himself out seeking a second that wasn’t there, falling for 21 from 26 balls to leave the visitors on 111-4 after 26 overs.
A weight of responsibility fell onto Darren Stevens, so often Kent’s hero, however he departed for just three, superbly caught at deep mid-wicket by Laurie Evans off Patel (2-38). Cowdrey (34) and Alex Blake steered Kent past 150 before Blake was the sixth man to go, caught by Evans off Oliver Hannon-Dalby (2-51).
Cowdrey followed in Hannon-Dalby’s next over, caught by Porterfield after a sloppy shot and it was soon 1618 when Mitch Claydon (1) w a s caught behind off Rankin, who finished with 3-34 from 10 overs.
The sole positive for Kent came in the form of a late cameo from Sam Billings, whose late flurry of four fours and a six steered Kent past 200.
His run-a-ball 40 not out put on a Kent record unbroken ninthwicket stand of 54 with David Griffiths (12 not out).
Speaking on Sky Sports, Key paid tribute to the Bears and admitted his side were at least 50 runs short of a defendable target.
He said: “Credit to them, Boyd Rankin came on when we just wanted to kick on. He bowled brilliantly and Jeetan Patel is a fantastic spinner but we gifted wickets, myself, quite a few of us… we made it too easy.
“I still think 270 and you’re right in the game.”
Warwickshire looked heavy favourites from the off even when Claydon had Porterfield (10) caught by Northeast with the score on 18.
Skipper Varun Chopra and Jonathan Trott then put on 110 for the second wicket to put the Bears firmly in control, although Griffiths got Trott (58 from 68 balls) to offer up a chance to Nash who made no mistake.
In the next over, Adam Riley trapped Chopra for a patient 50 to give the visitors hope at 132-3 with 20 overs remaining.
However, Tim Ambrose and Evans calmed the nerves with a patient 57-run partnership before Evans played-on off Griffiths (2-29) for 24, just 17 short of their target.
Ambrose (51 not out) and Rikki Clarke (eight not out) then steered the hosts over the line with six wickets and 21 balls to spare.
The Bears will play Durham in the Lord’s final on September 20 after they beat Nottinghamshire.