Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Skipper’s ton the highlight of tame draw
Kent skipper Sam Northeast notched his fifth first-class ton of the season rather than conspiring in any sort of last-day contrivance with Specsavers County Championship Division 2 champions Essex.
The top two sides in the second tier finally shook hands on a draw at 4.20pm on Friday, by which time Kent had reached 288-5 declared for an overall lead in the match of 437.
Gordon Hollins, the ECB’S chief operating officer, presented Essex with their trophy and winners’ cheque soon after, leaving Kent contemplating another season in the lower ranks
Northeast, though, was proud of his team’s efforts over the course of the season
He said: “I’m proud of my boys for coming second and I feel we’ve developed into quite a good side now.
“If we did go up, I’d be confident in what we could produce at the top level. The future is looking bright.
“Hardus Viljoen and Will Gidman have given us greater balance to the side and I’d like to keep both of them but that’s all out of my hands.”
Of the match, Northeast said: “They didn’t want to have to bat again, which was fair enough and it’s the time of year when the trophies are decided and you’re left playing for milestones.”
After Kent’s failure to make Essex follow-on on the fourth and final morning, the top two sides had only bragging rights and averages to play for.
And, having seen his side lose four early wickets in the quest for quick runs, Northeast took the pragmatic approach.
Starting their second innings within 15 minutes of the final day’s start, Kent – who banked a first innings lead of 149 – lost Daniel BellDrummond to the fifth ball without scoring. Joe Denly’s positivity got the better of him when he charged down the track to Matt Dixon to drive into the hands of Nick Browne at extra cover to make it 13-2.
‘The future is looking bright’
Sean Dickson also perished when attempting the extravagant drive to a Will Rhodes length ball, edging to Varun Chopra at slip.
The hosts lost first innings topscorer Darren Stevens in the midsession for 18.
Northeast and Gidman flourished either side of tea, adding an unbroken 185 for the sixth wicket with Northeast reaching three figures just before the interval from 119 balls and with 15 fours.
In the final session, Gidman, the on- loan all- rounder from Nottinghamshire, posted his fifth 50 in five starts for Kent, leaving Northeast to make hay against some part-time bowling to finish unbeaten on 178.
Fittingly, Masters, the Essex stalwart who started his career with Kent, sent down the final over – it was a maiden.
Stevens had top scored with 136 in the Kent first innings of 441 which also included half-centuries for Denly (74) and Northeast (56). Essex were all out for 292.