WALKER BLASTS PLAYERS AFTER HEAVY LOSS

plain and simple.

“We expect so much more from this unit because it is a talented one but they are currently way off producing what is required. Northamptonshire outplayed us in every department.

“The wicket wasn’t the best but that’s certainly no excuse.

“We’ve got to start showing a lot more fight and guts when the going gets tough because there is no hiding place in this game and you get found out.”

Jimmy Adams’ right-hand man said there was no long inquisition after the game into what went drastically wrong.

Walker said: “It was a short talk with them (the players).

“They are hurting after what happened – we all are. Now it’s up to them to respond and start performing like we know they can.”

Northamptonshire needed just 46 to win, something they took just nine overs to do.

Earlier, Kent were dismissed for 140 in their first innings on Sunday before fighting back to restrict Northamptonshire to 193-7.

After losing openers Denly (8) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (12) early, Kent were well placed at 93-2 10 minutes before lunch.

That all changed within the space of 19 balls with Rob Key (35), Sam Northeast (36), Darren Stevens (0) and James Tredwell (0) all departing for the addition of four runs.

Forty-four balls after lunch, Kent were all-out with Muhammed Azharullah (5-31) and Rory Kleinveldt (5-41) leading the carnage.

Richard Levi top scored in Northants’ reply as they made 246 with Matt Coles (4-83) and Stevens (3-56) among the wickets.

Kent failed to improve in their second innings as Olly Stone took a career-best 5-44 for the hosts.

Kleinveldt (3-44) and Muhammed Azharullah (216) were again in the wickets with only Bell-Drummond (10) and Stevens (28) joining Denly in double figures as Kent left Northants with a simple chase.