Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Kent fall short in pursuit of modest target
Kent suffered a frustrating defeat to Gloucestershire at Canterbury in Natwest T20 Blast South Group on Tuesday night. The Spitfires looked strong favourites at the midway stage after some inspired bowling from Imran Qayyum, who claimed 2-19 on just his second T20 start and slick fielding helped restrict the visitors to a modest 138-9. However, despite a breezy start to the reply, Kent lost momentum and wickets fell regularly. They were eventually held to a total of 130 and saw their South Group record drop to two wins and two losses, while their conquerors took over at the top of the table after a second win against the Spitfires in five days. After Kent won the toss and elected to chase, Kiwi Jimmy Neesham struck with his third ball as he tempted Phil Mustard into skying one with Daniel Bell-drummond scrambling backwards and taking a diving catch over his own shoulder to make it 18-1. Australian Michael Klinger holed out to Darren Stevens from Mitch Claydon’s first ball to depart for 25 and leave his side on 33-2 at the start of the sixth over. Ian Cockbain found the ropes regularly to steer his side to 63-2 at the midway stage but George Hankins (14) took a wild slog at Qayyum – in for the unavailable Adam Milne – and was stumped by Sam Billings. In the same over, Qayyum tempted Cockbain to drive straight at Sam Northeast at cover to depart for 40. Jack Taylor launched Neesham for an almighty six and followed up with a four next ball but he was deceived by Claydon’s slower ball to start the 18th over and looped a dolly straight to Matt Coles to make it 116-5 with 17 balls remaining. Alex Blake’s catch soon after was far harder as he took a tumbling effort to dismiss Thisara Perera (1) off Neesham (2-30) in the penultimate over. The slickness of Kent’s fielding shone through in the final over from Claydon (2-24), as first Tom Smith (1) and then Matt Taylor (0) were run out. Benny Howell scored 26 from 16 balls but was run out off the final ball. The reply began inauspiciously with a fierce David Payne maiden over but Denly struck the first ball he faced off Matt Taylor for six. Bell-drummond cracked four straight fours off Perera but was trapped leg before by the Sri Lankan for 25 from 18 balls to end the fourth over, with Kent on 33-1. Denly fell for 18 from 17 balls and Sam Billings and Sam Northeast came together with the score on 51-2 after seven overs. Northeast departed for 10 after mis-timing Howell to Klinger to make the score 68-3 at the midway point. Klinger was also on hand when Neesham (1) skied Smith and then took a diving catch to dismiss Billings (15) from the next ball. Kent were 71-5 after 11 overs and looking in trouble but Blake and Stevens steadied the innings with 19 runs from three overs. Thirty-eight were needed from the final 30 balls but Stevens got a leading edge and hit a ball from Howell (2-12 off four) straight back to the bowler and was caught for 15. Matt Coles (1) skied Payne to Taylor to leave Kent needing 30 from the final three overs with three wickets in hand and their hopes were all but over when Blake (19) slashed Perera to Taylor two balls later. Claydon and James Tredwell needed 19 off the final over but were unable to achieve a miraculous win as Tredwell was bowled by Perera for seven before Kent closed on 130 all out after Qayyum (6) was run out from the final ball.