The regions may have missed out on the new ‘Shane’ – Bearman
JOE Denly’s 23rd first-class century led a spirited Kent fightback on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match with Division Two rivals Glamorgan in Canterbury.
The hosts had lost four wickets and Denly had yet to get off the mark after Glamorgan’s pace attack made a fiery start on a wellgrassed pitch, but 31-year-old Denly dug in to post his fourth championship ton of the summer and lead the hosts to relative riches at 302 all out.
In the 13 overs through to stumps, Glamorgan reached 18 for one to trail by 284 runs going into day two. The visitors, who named seven graduates from the junior Welsh ranks in their starting XI, lost Nick Selman in the third over to a catch at the wicket off Adam Milne, but played with spirit thereafter in fast fading light.
Batting first when Glamorgan opted to bowl after an uncontested toss, Kent were indebted to No3 Denly for contributing over half the home total and for salvaging the innings from the depths of 39 for four.
Kent lost both openers within the first 37 deliveries of the match.
Sean Dickson, prodding outside off against Michael Hogan, edged low to David Lloyd at slip, then, to the very next delivery from Lucas Carey, Daniel Bell-Drummond aimed an expansive drive without moving his feet and feathered one though to the gloves of Chris Cooke.
The Kentish malaise worsened when skipper Sam Northeast chased a wide, floating awayswinger from Carey to be caught at slip and soon after,
Sam Billings’ 14-ball stay ended for 18. Pushing on the back foot to a Rory Smith away-swinger that started on a fourth-stump line and kept swinging, Billings lamely followed to edge to the keeper.
The right-hander also stood his ground, forcing umpire Nigel Cowley, officiating in his final game, to raise the trigger finger.
With Denly becalmed on a single for 45 minutes, the hosts finally raised their 50 in the 19th over, but the interval only served to break Zak Crawley’s concentration and his useful contribution ended in the second over after the resumption. Aiming a leg-side flick against
Hogan, he found a leading edge to balloon a simple catch to midoff. Hogan struck again soon after, snaring Darren Stevens lbw with an off-cutter that darted back up the slope while Stevens shouldered arms.
Denly and Callum Haggett joined forces to add a useful 87 until Haggett fell just before tea, departing lbw after working across the line of a Lloyd in-swinger.
Denly found another willing ally in Adam Milne who played some eye-catching drives in moving to 33 before being removed.
“It isn’t for everyone and there is always an element of doubt about whether a young player will be suited mentally and physically to it. Having raw ability is only the start.”
Bearman left the Ospreys after a notable contribution that spanned 101 games over six seasons.
The Cornwall-born No. 8 proved a popular figure at the region and says it hurts him to see the difficulties his old team have encountered so far this season. “I’m gutted for them,” he said. “It’s my club and some of my best friends are there, so of course I want them to be doing well.
“My understanding is they have made a few tweaks to their game and it is now a question of adapting.
“I’m sure they will get there. They have world-class players in that squad, like Alun Wyn Jones, Webby (Rhys Webb) and Tips (Justin Tipuric), and those guys will ensure the situation eventually turns around. “But it isn’t an overnight job. “It could take until Christmas before the players are totally comfortable and the results start coming again. Maybe it could take until next season.
“And, as last Friday evening showed, there are pretty much no easy games in Guinness PRO Rugby any more. There was a time when every side travelled to Italy expecting a win, but Treviso are an improved side these days and so are Zebre.
“You just have to do all you can to keep getting better yourselves.”
Bearman is settling after his step down to Merthyr. “I’m enjoying it,” he said.
“I had a bump a few weeks ago and then a new baby daughter joined us, but the lads are great and I still get a huge buzz out of playing.”