Shot-shy Durham short of practice
DURHAM coach Jon Lewis said the bad weather in the build up to the start of their County Championship season was behind their humiliating defeat against Kent inside two days.
Matt Henry claimed career-best figures of 12-73 to guide Kent to a comfortable victory in their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at Emirates Riverside.
The New Zealand seamer dominated with the ball in both of the home side’s innings. The 26-year-old notched five wickets on day one before returning with even better bowling in the second. He tore through Durham’s line-up, finishing with career-best innings figures of 7-45.
It allowed Kent to cruise to a ninewicket victory as Lewis admitted a lack of preparation was behind his side’s poor start to the season.
“We certainly looked a bit shy of games,” he said. “The batters looked shy of a hit in the middle or two. It probably showed up more today than it did on day one. It looked as though the batters were still playing on a day one wicket.
“They were looking for demons that weren’t quite as large as they were on day one.
“There was less going on today and a couple of them were looking for something to happen and then were undone by that fact. They needed to be mentally tougher and part of that is being game hardened. “We had four games, two and threeday games pencilled in for pre-season. We managed to play one day out of those games due to the weather. “It wasn’t ideal and not being on grass didn’t help too much either. I don’t think we can lay everything on that we were not good enough between the ears when the batters were looking for things that weren’t quite as bad as they were on day one. “There’s no substitute for playing on grass and there’s no substitute for playing games. That’s what we were a bit shy of. “No excuses though – Kent played well. Matt Henry bowled beautifully and they were the deserved winners.” The home side began the day 13-1 after losing Aiden Markram for a duck in the evening session on day one. Will Smith and Matthew Potts returned to the crease, with Smith dispatch- ing the first ball of the day to the boundary. But it was downhill from that point as Smith was caught at slip by Sean Dickson for 12 as Henry continued to torment Durham’s batsmen.
He struck in his next over when he clean bowled Gareth Harte for one.
Kent’s ability to apply pressure from both ends was integral to their success. Darren Stevens highlighted the point when he removed Graham Clark for a duck.
Paul Collingwood arrived at the crease with his team in need of a stoic knock from their skipper, but he lasted just deliveries before he edged Stevens behind the Heino Kuhn in the slip.
After Smith’s boundary off the first ball of the second morning the home side had lost 4 wickets in 3.5 overs, scoring just seven runs. Michael Richardson edged Henry through the slips to notch a boundary.
However, the 26-year-old had his revenge when Richardson knicked off behind from a brilliant ball. Stuart Poynter joined the collapse as he was adjudged lbw leaving Durham 39-7.
Resistance came from the hosts when Matthew Potts scored 36 with a composed knock - the 19-year-old had been the nightwatchman and remained in position until Durham had forced Kent to bat again. After his dismissal, James Weighell batted brilliantly with Nathan Rimmington. The pair put on 50 in 52 deliveries taking them over the 100-run mark.
Henry returned to remove Rimmington for 25, but Weighell issued a response and scored his third first-class 50, reaching it off 69 deliveries. Weighell’s found the boundary with regularity, including three sixes, in his innings of 84, which was ended going for one shot too many off Henry, with Durham’s advantage at 92.
Kent lost Sean Dickson for three. Heino Kuhn survived a dropped chance, three inside edges and being bowled off a no ball to guide his team to victory with 36 not out, assisted by Daniel Bell-Drummond (45 no) in a partnership of 91, winning by nine wickets.