Kent story

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Kent vs Hampshire



Kent play host to Hampshire in only their second home match of the season. Confidence is sky high at Canterbury after the hosts followed up their first Championship win under djmaddison8 with a fantastic bowling display to beat Worcestershire in the Challenge Trophy.

Unsurprisingly Kent are unchanged from the Sussex match whilst Hampshire leave out spinner Danny Briggs on a pitch expected to suit the seamers.

Kent won the toss and will bat first.

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Balcombe Dismisses Kent on Day One



David Balcombe took 4-40 as Kent were bowled out for 243 on day 1 against Hampshire.

Rob Key fell early to an inswinger from Chris Wood before Balcombe, who spent part of the 2011 season on loan to Kent, took the wickets of Alex Blake and Mike Powell. Michael Carberry looked good at the other end but when Darren Stevens was bowled by David Griffiths with the score on just 75 Kent looked in trouble.

Carberry combined well with fellow left-hander Ben Harmison as the two put on 64 together. The opener reached his 4th half century of the season but his problem has been not going on from good starts and here he fell for 79 becoming Balcombe's 3rd victim. Harmison was dropped on 48 and went on to record his first 50 in this format for 3 years before being run out.

Kent were still in danger of being bowled out for less than 200 but Mike Hills and Adam Riley put on 43 for the 8th wicket to ensure a bonus point and Mark Davies made a nice 22* to make Kent's total more competitive.

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Bowlers Dominate at Canterbury



15 wickets fell on day 2 as Kent closed effectively 88-5 against Hampshire.

Kent started the day well as Mike Hills picked up the wickets of Simon Katich and Neil McKenzie in his first spell, despite the latter looking dangerous in his 34-ball 27. Liam Dawson and Alan Andrews rebuilt however, putting on 64 together before Dawson was caught and bowled by Adam Riley on the stroke of lunch.

Sean Ervine was caught off a no-ball immediately after the break and looked to take advantage of that with a six off Hills but his partner was less lucky as Andrews was caught by Darren Stevens off Charlie Shreck. Ervine soon followed in a carbon copy of the no-ball only this time Hills' foot was firmly behind the line. Riki Wessels and James Vince didn't offer much resistance as they fell to Riley and Shreck respectively but Chris Wood and Kabir Ali put on a stubborn 49 to edge closer to Kent's total before Wood was caught at slip off Mark Davies.

Hills and Shreck took the final 2 wickets but some aggressive hitting from David Balcombe meant that Kent's lead was just 12. They again lost their skipper early, this time bowled by Ali, and Alex Blake followed, LBW to Wood in what could be his last innings at number 3 for a while. Michael Carberry and Mike Powell put on 31 but the hosts lost a further 3 wickets for just 9 runs to put Hampshire in the driving seat.

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Katich Holds Firm as Hampshire Win



Hampshire beat Kent by 5 wickets halfway through day 3 due to a patient half century by Simon Katich.

Kent's nightwatchman Adam Riley departed to the first ball of the day, bowled by Kabir Ali, and when Ben Harmison was LBW to Chris Wood for just 3 Kent were really in trouble. Darren Stevens hung around to reach 28 not out but the hosts were bowled out for just 132 to leave Hampshire needing 145 for victory. They started shakily, losing Neil McKenzie to Mark Davies for 4, but Liam Dawson made 21 before being bowled by Charlie Shreck. The score at lunch was 40-2.

The next partnership was the match-winning one between Katich and Alan Andrews. They put on 72 together in 13 overs, including 14 boundaries between them. Riley's first 3 overs went for 25 runs but it was he who got the breakthrough, Andrews edging to slip. Riley also got Sean Ervine in the next over and Hants must have got a few butterflies when Mike Hills removed Riki Wessels, making sure this wouldn't be his first wicketless innings of the season. Katich held firm however and brought up his half century with the boundary that won the match.

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Hills Surprise Inclusion in England Squad

Kent youngster Mike Hills has been selected in the England squad to face New Zealand in the 1st Test match of the summer.

The 20-year-old is picked ahead of Tim Bresnan who had a tough time in Test match cricket last year, although is enjoying a good run of form in the IPL this season. Chris Tremlett will also feel disappointed to have missed out.

Hills has taken more First Class wickets, 42, than anyone but James Harris (46) and Graeme Swann (45) so far this season and his career average of 19.63 is the best of any English player currently playing.

Hills began his professional career at Essex last season, bursting onto the scene with 5-14 in a T20 match. He suffered contract disputes with his home county however, with Essex apparently not willing to pay above a certain amount to a teenager, and Kent were quick to snap him up.

England Squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior (wicket-keeper), Stuart Broad, Mike Hills, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn

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Northamptonshire vs Kent



Champions Northamptonshire welcome Kent in the Challenge Trophy with both sides having won their first game in the competition.

Kent wouldn't have expected any problems with international call ups this season but the surprise inclusion of Mike Hills in the England squad means Ben Kemp comes into the side.

Northants won the toss and will field first.

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Northants Scrape Through in Tight Finish



Northamptonshire beat Kent by 1 wicket as Chris Schofield hit a six in the final over and Rob Key's gamble with his bowlers failed to pay off.

Key had gone early in Kent's innings again, scoring just 7 off 20 balls as he was caught and bowled by David Willey. Michael Carberry didn't last much longer as he was bowled by Jack Brooks for 11. Alex Blake has been nothing if not aggressive this season and this time it paid off as he dominated the only half century partnership of the match with Jamie Dalrymple. Both men fell to Willey, but Blake's 43 with 4 fours and 2 sixes had given Kent some impetus. They had scored only 85 off the first 24 overs though and Ben Harmison didn't help matters as he scored just 9 off 33 balls before falling to Schofield. Darren Stevens and Paul Cockburn put on a much-needed, relatively fast 34 but Schofield took another 2 wickets to restrict Kent to just 142-7.

The visitors had bowled Worcestershire out for 139 in their previous match and looked confident they could do it again despite the absence of Mike Hills. Just 2 runs were conceded from the first 3 overs and the pressure told as Kyle Coetzer hit Charlie Shreck straight to Adam Riley. Northants' two wicket-keepers Niall O'Brien and David Murphy put on 40 together, the latter the aggressor with a six off Mark Davies. Ben Kemp was first change bowler and he had two wickets in two balls at the start of his second over, Murphy and David Sales falling LBW. O'Brien continued to play well and rebuilt slowly, ready to go up a gear towards the end, but they fell to Riley and Shreck respectively as the score reached 105-5. Josh Cobb scored just 22 but it was the manner in which they were scored that changed the game. All the runs were hit from 2 overs from the spinners and when he fell to Riley just 26 runs were needed from 65 balls. That was what prompted Key to bowl out his best bowlers in an attempt to take the remaining wickets. They conceded just 21 runs in the next 8 overs and took 2 wickets but it left Harmison and Dalrymple to bowl the last 2 and though the former took the wicket of Brooks, Lee Daggett survived his only ball to allow Schofield to hit the winning runs.

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Kent vs Derbyshire



Kent host Derbyshire as 8th plays 5th in the County Championship.

The home side make 3 changes to the side that lost to Hampshire. Jamie Dalrymple and Fabian Cowdrey come in for Alex Blake and Mike Powell in a re-jigged batting line-up, whilst Ben Kemp comes in for Mike Hills who is still with England.

Derbyshire are not playing a spinner but will bowl first as Kent won the toss.

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Derbyshire Induce Kent Collapse



Kent collapsed again as Derbyshire bowled them out cheaply before ending just 59 runs behind.

Rob Key and Michael Carberry got off to a fairly comfortable start, scoring 29 before Key edged behind off Tony Palladino and Jonathan Clare bowled Carberry. Darren Stevens and Jamie Dalrymple took the score to 50 but Dalrymple fell to Palladino and Mark Turner removed Stevens and Fabian Cowdrey in the same over to leave Kent 55-5. Ben Harmison was the only batsman who looked comfortable but he also fell to Clare for 23.

When Paul Cockburn and Adam Riley fell cheaply Kent were 109-8 but Mark Davies and Ben Kemp capitalised on a lot of luck to put on 58 for the 9th wicket. There were a lot of edges and Davies was dropped but hit 8 boundaries in his 42, his highest First Class score for over 3 years. The fun was eventually ended by Mark Footitt as the innings ended on 168. Wayne Madsen and Paul Borrington survived to tea.

The pair put on 57 after the break, taking advantage of some wayward bowling by Kemp, before Charlie Shreck bowled Borrington. Usman Khawaja has been in great form this season but luckily for Kent he missed one from the impressive Riley. Derbyshire reached 109-2 however, with Madsen bringing up 50 before bad light stopped play.

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Kent Top Order Fails Again



Kent ended the day 86 runs behind on 70-4 after taking 7 wickets in the afternoon session.

The day began well for Derbyshire as Wayne Madsen and Michael Stemman put on 106 for the 3rd wicket. Madsen was eventually caught behind off Adam Riley, who continued to be Kent's best bowler, but Stemman passed 50 for the 2nd time this season as the visitors surpassed Kent's score.

With 8 overs until the 2nd new ball, Kent brought back Ben Kemp and it paid off as he induced an edge from Stemman. Ross Whiteley and Wes Durston quietly put on 42 but the new ball brought 3 wickets in 8 deliveries. First Mark Davies got Whiteley, then Charlie Shreck picked up both Durston and Tom Poynton in the same over. The remaining batsmen all got into double figures but Kemp took the last 3 wickets to improve his figures and ensure the lead was just 156 when it could have been a lot more.

Rob Key was out for less than 20 for the 6th innings in a row, this time falling to Tony Palladino before Jonathan Clare bowled Darren Stevens for a 17-ball duck. Michael Carberry and Jamie Dalrymple hit a couple of boundaries each but both fell before the close to leave Kent in big trouble.

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Derbyshire Complete 10 Wicket Victory



Derbyshire beat Kent by 10 wickets on day 3 at Canterbury to move up to 4th place in the County Championship Division 2.

Kent's nightwatchman Mark Davies fell early but Ben Harmison and Fabian Cowdrey put together a slow half century partnership in tough conditions. Harmison approached 50 of his own towards lunch but Cowdrey fell LBW to Mark Footitt with his side still 35 runs behind.

Harmison added a further 13 runs after the break but when he fell to Mark Turner the tail followed quickly. Derbyshire's 2nd innings lasted just 11 balls before Paul Borrington deposited Charlie Shreck over cover for 6 to win the match.

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Warwickshire vs Kent



Kent travel to Warwickshire in the Challenge Trophy needing a win to stop their current slide. They have lost their last 3 matches across both formats and are missing Mike Hills, who has so far taken 4 wickets in his Test debut.

The visitors make 3 changes from the side who narrowly lost out to Northamptonshire. Rob Key and Ben Harmison are rested and in come Chris Piesley and Mike Powell. Adam Riley also misses out on a seamers pitch and Matt Coles plays his first match of the season.

Kent won the toss and chose to field first.

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Powell, Carberry Lead Kent to Victory



Kent beat Warwickshire by 2 wickets in their 3rd tight finish in as many matches this season.

Ian Westwood and William Porterfield started nicely, putting on 26 before the latter was bowled by Charlie Shreck from the last ball of the mandatory powerplay. Laurie Evans followed in Matt Coles' first over, but Westwood and Jim Troughton put on 54 including 8 boundaries to steady the ship. Troughton was run out attempting a single that was never there but Keith Barker really upped the ante, hitting 6s off Darren Stevens and Ben Kemp as another good partnership developed. Westwood fell to Jamie Dalrymple attempting a slog and Tim Ambrose went early to Kemp but Barker's 58 with Chris Woakes came off just 38 balls to give Warwickshire a good total above 200.

Kent's innings began disastrously as both Chris Piesley and Alex Blake fell cheaply to Barker, who was back in the pavilion just one over before returning to open the bowling. Michael Carberry has been hitting the ball well all season however, despite not going on to big scores, and in Mike Powell he found the perfect partner. The two put on 98 together, the highlight being 23 runs off consecutive Boyd Rankin overs, before Carberry edged behind off Barker for 54. Dalrymple was busy in his 15 balls, hitting Barker for four and six before being cleaned up by Woakes. When Powell became Barker's 4th wicket Kent were 140-5, still needing 76 runs from 78 balls. The next two partnerships won it for Kent and they both involved Paul Cockburn, first putting on 32 with Stevens then 33 with Coles. When he was dismissed for 40 off 36 balls by Rikki Clarke his side needed 11 from 15 balls and Coles calmly hit the winning runs.

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Gloucestershire vs Kent



Its Gloucestershire against Kent in the County Championship up next. Both sides have won only one match in this format so far this season, with just one point separating the sides at the bottom of the table.

Kent's batting still has a tendency to collapse, but it's in the bowling department that they have made a change. Mark Davies is out, although it's unclear if he's being rested or dropped after just 14 wickets in 6 matches. Matt Coles comes in after a decent performance in the Challenge Trophy.

Gloucestershire won the toss and will bat first.

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Cockbain, Batty Frustrate Kent



Ian Cockbain and Jonathan Batty scored 104 for the 7th wicket as Gloucestershire neared 400 on day 1.

Matt Coles marked his first Championship match of the season by taking the new ball and conceding just 6 runs from his opening 7 over spell which also included the wicket of Hamish Marshall. Ed Young lived a charmed life early on but combined with Varun Chopra to add 68 for the 2nd wicket. Ben Kemp was his usual unpredictable self but when Coles returned he added the wicket of Chopra, caught at slip by Fabian Cowdrey.

Coles lost some of his control after lunch and Alex Gidman took full advantage as he hit 70 off 97 balls including a big six. He put on 93 with Young before attempting a crazy run which cost the latter his wicket. But that was nothing to the wicket of Will Gidman. Chris Dent hit the ball right to Charlie Shreck but the younger Gidman brother called him through and ran himself out in the process. In between the two run outs Alex was caught by Cowdrey off Adam Riley, leaving Gloucestershire 234-5 at tea.

When Kemp had Dent caught at slip by Riley the hosts were 265-6 and Kent would have hoped to clean them up with the new ball. Cockbain, also playing his first match of the season, and Batty had other ideas. Their century partnership came in less than 22 overs and when Kemp finally removed Batty for a well-made 50 Gloucestershire were firmly on top.