County maintain title bid with an innings victory

Kent went into their Specsavers County Championship Division 2 match against Sussex at Hove, starting yesterday (Wednesday), in buoyant mood following their innings defeat of Gloucestershire last week. Sam Northeast’s bowled out Gloucestershire for 243 to secure victory by an innings and 69 runs at Bristol last Friday. Kent took 24 points from the game to close the gap on Essex at the top of Division 2. A valiant Hamish Marshall century could not save Gloucestershire from a heavy defeat. Unbeaten on 11 in a total of 34-4 overnight, the Kiwi batsman went on to make 118 as his side at least went down with a fight. South African seamer Hardus Viljoen took two of the last-day wickets to fall for match figures of 8-121 on his Kent debut, while Darren Stevens finished with 3-47 and five wickets in the game. The victory leaves Kent 24 points behind Essex – with three matches to play – and the teams due meet in the final game of the season at Canterbury next month. Kent skipper Sam Northeast said after the game: “Knowing that Essex had won last night was interesting for the guys because it meant we had to come out and win today. “That meant a bit of extra pressure but we are playing some seriously good cricket. “The bowling attack keeps performing and Hardus Viljoen has made one of the best debuts I can ever recall seeing from an overseas player. “Taking four wickets last night when overhead conditions helped was a big bonus for us. It was hard work today because Hamish Marshall played exceptionally well but we kept plugging away and are in a good place at the moment.” Gloucestershire were comprehensively outplayed on a docile pitch but could take some satisfaction from taking the match into the final session. The hosts were bowled out for 221 in their first innings, with Viljoen taking 5-55. Hundreds from both Sam Billings (171) and Stevens (140) then took Kent to a commanding 533-6 declared. There were also half-centuries for Daniel Bell Drummond (65), Northeast (54) and Will Gidman (58 not out). Kent’s final two matches are both at home, against Northamptonshire at Beckenham, starting on Tuesday and against leaders Essex at Canterbury, starting on Tuesday, September 20.