Spitfires outclassed

James Tredwell paid tribute to Nottinghamshire after the Outlaws beat the Kent Spitfires by five wickets to end the hosts’ Yorkshire Bank 40 campaign on a low-note at Canterbury on Monday.

The visitors eased to their victory target of 196 with 10 balls to spare to earn themselves a home semi-final, while Kent finished five points adrift of a last-four berth.

In the final action of the 162nd Canterbury Cricket Week, Rob Key (41) put on 76 with Brendan Nash (47) for the second wicket – after Sam Northeast (2) fell early – before the two departed to leave Kent 112-3 with just over 14 overs remaining.

Darren Stevens contributed a breezy 27 before Fabian Cowdrey and Adam Ball (22) added 39 in a solid five-over stand, with Cowdrey unbeaten on 39 not out as Kent closed on 195-6.

The visitors always looked capable of chasing down their target and Alex Hales (74) and Patel (59) made sure of the victory they needed to qualify for the semi-finals.

The pair put on a match-winning partnership of 107 in 22 overs after Michael Lumb (28) had helped the reply get off to a bright start. Mark Davies was the pick of the Kent bowlers, taking 2-33.

Tredwell admitted: “Another 30 runs might have been the difference but they showed their skill and class in chasing that score down.

“Even though there might not have been anything on the game, I urged the boys to give what they could and they stuck with it in the field.”

Tredwell also admitted to frustration after Kent’s attempt to engineer victory in a rain-hit County Championship clash with Gloucestershire fell narrowly short earlier in the week.

Kent needed just a single wicket on the final day on Saturday to secure victory but the day was washed-out leaving Kent with a ninth draw from 12 matches.

Harmison and Stevens both cracked centuries and Key added a halfcentury as Kent posted 474 in their first innings.

But, with a poor forecast, the sides negotiated to set-up a potential result, with Gloucestershire declaring on 80-0 and Kent then doing likewise at 4-0 after just 19 balls of their second innings.

It left the visitors needing 399 for victory but, despite reducing Gloucestershire to 13-3 at one stage, Kent were frustrated by 152 not out from South African keeper Gareth Roderick.

The visitors clung on to reach 307-9 at the close of play on Friday but no play was possible the following day.

Picture: Barry Goodwin FM2759885 Pictures: Barry Goodwin FM2766804, FM2766853 below CLASS ACT: Darren Stevens on his way to a century against Gloucestershire HITTING OUT: Adam Ball goes big for Kent Spitfires against Nottinghamshire on Monday and, below, Rob Key works the ball away for runs