Kent hit back after good start for Glam

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 well-grassed pitch, but 31-yearold 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 BellDrummond 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 awayswinger that started on a fourthstump 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 mid-off.

Hogan struck again soon after, snaring Darren Stevens lbw with an off-cutter that darted back up the slope while Stevens shouldered arms.