Stevens makes his point after pay talks stall
Kent 441 Essex 289-9 - Stumps, Day Three
CHAMPIONSHIP cricket in September is a time of celebration, commiseration, farewells and speculation and Kent’s rain-affected clash with Essex in Canterbury encapsulated the lot.
With the Division Two title already secured, a goodly number of Essex followers flocked to the Spitfire Ground to celebrate their side’s promotion and bid farewell to their doughty, hard-working club stalwarts David Masters and Graham Napier, who have announced their retirements.
All-rounder Napier, who missed the game with a calf injury, and Masters, their obdurate seamer, will be prove a big miss in the top flight next season.
In Napier’s injury absence and with Masters revelling in his swansong appearance at his former home ground, Kent made hay after a first day washout to coast to 441 and clinch the five batting bonus points that secured second spot in the division and prize money of almost £57,000.
With 2-74 to his name, Masters unlaced his bowling boots to say: “I would love to carry on but the body is telling me ‘ enough is enough’. I’ve have to rely on my wife pushing me out of bed in the morning just so I can get to work.
“I’ve had a wonderful career and enjoyed every minute of it, but now it’s time for others to fill my place.We have exciting pace talent emerging at Essex, people like Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard.”
Despite Matt Dixon’s five-wicket haul, home skipper Sam Northeast scored his customary 50 and Joe Denly chipped in with a pleasing 74, but it was Kent beneficiary Darren Stevens, 40, who made the biggest point in scoring his 31st first-class century.
Stevens, who joined from Leicestershire in 2005, seemingly went into the game with a prove to point, and let his bat do the talking with a peerless 136 including 17 fours and three sixes.
It is understood the veteran allrounder has been offered a new one-year deal for 2017, but it would appear that the reduced payment terms on offer, coupled with Stevens’ desire to play until 2018, are major sticking points.
Stevens, who went to his 50 and 100 with mighty sixes, said: “There was a bit of anger, frustration and disappointment in that knock. I always love scoring runs and get more satisfaction from it being that Kent signed me as a batsman.
“I’ve obviously turned myself into a bit of an all-rounder but my main job is to get runs and the past couple of months have been pretty enjoyable in that regard.
“I love this place and I don’t want to go, so my hope is that we can sort something out because I feel I’ve still got two years left in me. I still have passion for the club and for these lads.”