Kentish Express Ashford & District
Spitfires bounce back
JAMES TREDWELL paid tribute to Rob Key’s ‘magnificent’ innings which helped the Spitfires bounce back from disappointment in the previous two days to begin Tunbridge Wells Festival Week with a bang.
Monday’s eight-wicket cruise against the Netherlands in Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A was a tonic after a 20-run defeat at Sussex Sharks the previous evening and the frustration of a rain-affected draw in LV= County Championship Division 2 at Essex on Saturday.
Key’s imperious 144 not out steered Kent to victory over the visitors and skipper Tredwell admitted: “We came pretty close against Sussex but couldn’t get over the line.
“We put in a much better performance on Monday and got a deserved result.
“We weren’t clinical enough in the previous games, if we’re honest. We probably gave away too many runs at the back end of the innings at Sussex – as we did against the Netherlands too.
“We were a bit off the mark but Keysey’s magnificent innings set us up nicely for a good run chase.”
He revealed: “The last year or so, Sam Billings has taken the pressure off Bob, playing the aggressive role.
“We spoke before the game with Sam Northeast and Bob at the top and said someone would have to take on that role and he certainly did.”
In glorious sunshine, the Netherlands won the toss and chose to bat but Matt Coles gave the hosts the perfect start as he bowled Michael Swart in the second over.
However, the Spitfires were made to toil after that with Wesley Barresi making an accomplished 69 before falling to Adam Riley.
Tom Cooper added 54 and Dom Michael cracked a late 51 from 40 balls, including three sixes, to steer the Dutchmen to 249-5 from their 40 overs.
Any murmurings in the crowd about a possible upset were shortlived as Northeast and Key began the reply in breezy fashion.
Spitfires reached 115 without loss before Northeast misread a delivery from spinner Pieter Seelar and departed for 35.
Key, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over with 19 fours and a late six and though Brendan Nash (57 from 38 balls) looked set to join Key to get the Spitfires over the line, it was Darren Stevens (11 not out) who finished in the support role as Key hammered Kent to victory with more than four overs to spare.
The Spitfires had gone down by 20 runs to the Sussex Sharks at Horsham the previous day despite looking poised for victory when, chasing a Sussex target of 222-9, they reached 141-3 off 26 overs with Stevens going well.
But when Stevens was caught in the covers off Chris Jordan for 51 and Ben Harmison was held by Luke Wright for 42, Kent’s tail was left with too much to do.
The Spitfires were bowled out for 202 in the final over when Mark Davies, who had batted despite suffering from a torn bicep in his left arm, lost his middle stump to James Anyon.
Jordan claimed 2-36 but his unbeaten 37 off 26 balls at the end of the Sussex innings was decisive.
He and last man Chris Liddle put on 34 after an inconsistent batting performance by the Sharks for whom Michael Yardy (42) was top scorer as Kent’s attack stuck to their task on a two-paced pitch, despite losing Davies to injury halfway through his sixth over.
Yardy was bowled by Tredwell to give the England spinner his 200th one-day wicket and Sussex’s lower-middle order failed before Jordan and Liddle gave the home side hope.
Adam Ball was Kent’s best bowler with 3-36 but his figures were spoilt when his last over cost 18.