KENT v YORKSHIRE (County Championship D2 2013)
Batting first, we came up against a fired up pace attack that quickly reduced us to 121/7!
Only Dominic Cole (56) stood firm until Beckett (28) and Tredwell (24) put together 51 for the eighth wicket.
Still, all out for 195 was a disaster and our home fans were vocal in their disappointment.
Starc (3/39), Patterson (2/31) and Sidebottom (2/39) were all impressive for the visitors.
Things were looking even more ominous as Jaques (47) and Root (69) put on 97 for the opening partnership.
However, after that, we claimed wickets at regular intervals and managed to restrict Yorkshire to 286 all out.
Lees (42) did his best to hold the middle order together, but without success.
Tredwell (3/57) and Carter (3/61) were our most successful bowlers.
Conceding a lead of 91, we would need a much improved effort in our second innings, but we got off to another poor start with both Birch and Cole gone at 29/2.
In marched Mike Powell, for what might possibly be his final appearance in Kent colours. With the responsibility of captaincy upon his shoulders and a point to prove, he stroked his way to an assured half century.
But when Naylor (35) and Powell (56) fell in quick succession, we were back in the poo at 123/4.
Luke Procter has proven to be a valuable signing for us and today he showed his true worth with a fighting unbeaten 140no to save us from embarrassment. Firstly he combined with Cowdrey (93) to put on 212 for the fifth wicket, and then later with Beckett (44no) in an unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 78.
We declared at 423/6, leaving Yorkshire a victory target of 333 in just over two sessions. They would be a batsman short too, with Sayers having been carted off to hospital in their first innings after copping a Beckett bouncer on the helmet.
Yorkshire came out with the intention of chasing right from the start, with Root (43) and Ballance (40) providing the early impetus.
When those two were both gone at 122/3 (effectively 123/4 due to Sayers being unable to bat), we wondered if they might shut up shop.
But no! Adam Lyth (105) blasted a wonderful century and with excellent support from Rashid (63), put his side into a position to achieve a great win.
We thought that we'd managed to save the draw when, with Starc and Hodgson at the crease, 14 runs were needed off the last two overs. But Hodgson (a true tailender) was the unlikely hero as he smashed three boundaries to get his side home.
Murtagh (4/98) and Beckett (2/66) bowled superbly under the circumstances, but we felt let down with Tredwell's figures of 23.3-2-94-0 on a turning wicket.
The final standings:
Batting first, we came up against a fired up pace attack that quickly reduced us to 121/7!
Only Dominic Cole (56) stood firm until Beckett (28) and Tredwell (24) put together 51 for the eighth wicket.
Still, all out for 195 was a disaster and our home fans were vocal in their disappointment.
Starc (3/39), Patterson (2/31) and Sidebottom (2/39) were all impressive for the visitors.
Things were looking even more ominous as Jaques (47) and Root (69) put on 97 for the opening partnership.
However, after that, we claimed wickets at regular intervals and managed to restrict Yorkshire to 286 all out.
Lees (42) did his best to hold the middle order together, but without success.
Tredwell (3/57) and Carter (3/61) were our most successful bowlers.
Conceding a lead of 91, we would need a much improved effort in our second innings, but we got off to another poor start with both Birch and Cole gone at 29/2.
In marched Mike Powell, for what might possibly be his final appearance in Kent colours. With the responsibility of captaincy upon his shoulders and a point to prove, he stroked his way to an assured half century.
But when Naylor (35) and Powell (56) fell in quick succession, we were back in the poo at 123/4.
Luke Procter has proven to be a valuable signing for us and today he showed his true worth with a fighting unbeaten 140no to save us from embarrassment. Firstly he combined with Cowdrey (93) to put on 212 for the fifth wicket, and then later with Beckett (44no) in an unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 78.
We declared at 423/6, leaving Yorkshire a victory target of 333 in just over two sessions. They would be a batsman short too, with Sayers having been carted off to hospital in their first innings after copping a Beckett bouncer on the helmet.
Yorkshire came out with the intention of chasing right from the start, with Root (43) and Ballance (40) providing the early impetus.
When those two were both gone at 122/3 (effectively 123/4 due to Sayers being unable to bat), we wondered if they might shut up shop.
But no! Adam Lyth (105) blasted a wonderful century and with excellent support from Rashid (63), put his side into a position to achieve a great win.
We thought that we'd managed to save the draw when, with Starc and Hodgson at the crease, 14 runs were needed off the last two overs. But Hodgson (a true tailender) was the unlikely hero as he smashed three boundaries to get his side home.
Murtagh (4/98) and Beckett (2/66) bowled superbly under the circumstances, but we felt let down with Tredwell's figures of 23.3-2-94-0 on a turning wicket.
The final standings:
Comment