Kent’s Adam Riley felt the side gave “a complete performance” as they wrapped up an eight-wicket win on the final day against Surrey.

22-year-old off-spinner Riley took 5-78 in the visitors’ second innings, giving him match figures of 9-155; his best for the county. Captain Rob Key and Brendan Nash both hit centuries during Kent’s first innings, helping their team to their first victory of the season against a Surrey side relegated from Division One last season.

The game also saw Kent take maximum batting and bowling points in a match for the first time since July 2012 – an indication of their impressive performance across all areas, as they took 24 points in total compared to Surrey’s 5.

“It’s always good to get over the line and get the first win of the season”, Riley said. “It was good to get all the bonus points as well, so it’s a proper win today.”

“It was a complete performance this week, so all the boys are pretty happy with the way it went.”

Riley bowled a 23-over unchanged spell, starting in the afternoon session on day three and ending on the morning of the final day, as he helped to keep up the pressure on the Surrey batsmen. His economy rate in the second innings – 2.23 – also showed his ability to keep the runs down whilst taking wickets at the same time.

“It’s always good fun to bowl long spells”, he said, “and the more overs you bowl, the more chance you have of getting your four-fors and your five-fors, so I’m definitely pleased.”

“I wish we’d done it a bit quicker so we didn’t have to sit around in the rain, but it was nice to pick up the fifth one in the end!”

Riley has impressed in the two games he has played for Kent this season, taking 14 wickets already, at an average of just 19.21.

With England still on the lookout for viable spin options, Riley’s name has been mentioned in some quarters, but the Sidcup-born bowler is keen to focus on performing regularly for Kent.

“It’s nice to be talked about, but all you can do is keep taking wickets”, he said.

“I’m not expecting any kind of England call-up. It’s just a case of bowling overs and taking wickets. My first aim is just to stay in the first team at Kent.”

“It helps when you take wickets, but you’ve got to take it game by game. When we go to Derby next week, I could have a stinker, and then I’ll be back to square one, so it’s all about working hard, keep bowling the overs that I’m bowling at the moment and taking a few poles along the way.”

 

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com