Kentish Express Ashford & District
Bell-Drummond pledges future with new contract
MT Coles 31-3-133-2, ME Claydon 13-3-40- 0, Yasir Shah 57-10-165-4, MD Hunn 31-3-90-3, JC Tredwell 33.2- 6-122-1, JL Denly 1- 0- 4- 0. DJ Bell-Drummond b Sanderson .........5 SR Dickson c Duckett b Holden .........60 JL Denly not out................................78 SA Northeast c Buck b Duckett .........27 AP Rouse not out ................................8 Extras (nb6) ......................................18 1-7, 2-108, 3-167.
NL Buck 4-1-17- 0, BW Sanderson 4-1-7-1, JJ Cobb 190- 64- 0, SP Crook 2- 0-10- 0, MDE Holden 14-2-35-1, AM Rossington 9-1-30- 0, BM Duckett 6- 0-21-1. Kent have been given a boost by the news that England Lions batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond has agreed a new contract with the club. The opener, who turns 24 next month, came through the ranks at Kent after joining the club aged seven and has established himself in the first XI in all formats over the past few seasons after making his breakthrough in 2011. His contract was due to expire at the end of this season and there were reports that Division 1 side Warwickshire were keen to take him to Edgbaston next year. However, it was revealed on Tuesday that he will remain at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, after agreeing an extension for an undisclosed term. Bell-Drummond said: “Kent have been a huge part of my life since I was seven. I feel very KENT’S NEXT FIVE GAMES T20 July 18 Gloucs (Canterbury)......... much at home here. I want to play for England one day and feel my game is progressing well with the support of (head coach) Matt Walker and the Kent coaches. “It’s an exciting time for the club and I want to contribute to some success for our supporters.” Bell-Drummond continued his sparkling one-day form in the game’s shortest format on Sunday. Having topped Kent’s averages in the Royal London One-Day Cup, he hit four sixes in 55 balls to finish 90 not out in Spitfires’ NatWest T20 Blast opener against Essex. Bell-Drummond’s one-day form is in stark contrast to his Championship record, where he averages less than 28 with just two half-centuries. “I’m getting better at this format and have got a method. Hopefully, I can stick to it throughout this tournament,” said Bell-Drummond. “It’s a completely different type of cricket. There’s no holding back when you open the batting in T20. It’s good the tournament has come at this time. “I’m glad I was able to carry my form from the 50-over competition. Hopefully, this is just the start for me. I try not to look too far ahead and just play my own game.” At a ground that provided a run fest in the drawn Championship match with Northants, Bell-Drummond was always confident Kent would chase down the 167 they needed to beat the Eagles. “You play every ball on its merit but we knew it was a good score to chase,” he added. “We were happy at the halfway point. It was vital we got off to a good start and we never looked back.” Kent continue their campaign with trips to Gloucestershire on Thursday (2.30pm) and Surrey on Friday at The Oval (6.30pm). On Tuesday, they entertain Gloucestershire at Canterbury (6.30pm). “We needed to hit the ground running, especially against Essex, who we have found tough in the past,” said BellDrummond. “There’s a lot of good teams in the South Group, anyone is capable of finishing top so you need to start well. Gloucestershire don’t have the names maybe that Essex have but they are just as effective.”