Hartley grabs his big chance

Charlie Hartley’s man-ofthe-match display in his first appearance since 2014 helped keep Kent’s Royal London One-day Cup hopes alive.

Hartley, who came in as a late replacement for David Griffiths after he pulled out with a sore Achilles in the warm-ups, took 2-23 from his six overs helping to restrict Gloucestershire to a modest total of 200 at Canterbury on Sunday.

In reply, Joe Denly led the charge with 82 not out as Kent eased to a seven-wicket win with 8.4 overs to spare.

The match represented Hartley’s domestic List A debut – his previous appearances had come against Sri Lanka and New Zealand A – and the 22-yearold seamer said: “It’s never nice to get a chance after someone pulls up on the morning of the match but in this sort of business you must take your chances when they come and I’m delighted to have managed that with two wickets.

“We knew what sort of pitch it was after seeing Darren Stevens bowl on it. Just full of a good length and it was almost impossible for them to get boundaries.

“Stevo told me that the ball had just started reversing. I was getting a bit of shape in to the righthanders and that meant I Hartley’s second over.

Picked after back-to-back five-wicket hauls for Kent 2nds Hartley struck again in near identical fashion in his next over, when he snared Graeme van Buuren for 20.

When Kent replied, Daniel Bell-drummond continued his fine form, making 42 in opening partnership of 91 with Denly to set up the win, with Sam Northeast 26 and Stevens, 28 not out, helping steer the Spitfires over the line.

Hartley added: “I was a bit nervous for my first ball but after that I just backed my skills.

“I’ve been bowling well of late for the 2nds and knew I could execute them no matter what the level I’m performing at.

“If I’m doing my best and executing my skills as well as I have today, then I’ve got to give the captain and coach a decision to make about selection.

“That’s my job for the rest of the season, to play as well as I can and prove to everyone here that I deserve a new contract.”