Kent batsman Ben Harmison feels the side are in a decent position after being bowled out for 258 on day one against Worcestershire.

In-form Harmison, who made a career-best 125 in Kent’s defeat against Gloucestershire last week, put together a well-made 47 in Kent’s first innings at Tunbridge Wells, against the attack that has taken the most bowling points in Division Two this season, and includes world-renowned Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took match figures of 13-94 in Worcestershire’s win over Essex last week.

Kent’s former-Durham batsman feels that though the side’s position could have been even better, with a number of batsmen making starts, they are still well in the game.

“We’ll have to wait and see until they bat”, Harmison told KSN at the close of play, “but at the start of the day, with [Saeed] Ajmal and his form and what he’s done, I think we would have taken around 250 or 300 on that pitch.

“We had two or three lads who got in, got to 40, and got out, which was a bit disappointing for the rest of the lads – if someone had kicked on and got a hundred, we’d be looking at 350 or 400.

“He’s a mystery spinner”, Harmison said of 36-year-old Ajmal, who has nearly 450 wickets in international cricket for Pakistan.

“He’s challenging both edges of your bat, so you either have to pick him out the hand or off the pitch. It was a good challenge.”

“We spoke before the game about facing people like that – Test cricketers – it brings out the best in players if you really want it.”

Harmison’s 47 followed on from his excellent second-innings century at Bristol last week, and the 28-year-old said he was feeling in good nick.

“It was nice”, he said of his 102-ball knock today.

“You always switch on a bit more when you’re facing someone like Ajmal – his Test record speaks for itself.

“I’m disappointed to get in and get out. I feel in form, but forties don’t really mean much – when you get to 40, you should be kicking on and getting a big score.”

Overall though, Harmison was pleased with the side’s efforts on the first day, and confident for the rest of the game.

“There are not many teams this year getting 260 against them [Worcestershire]”, he said.

“We’ll see what happens tomorrow – this time tomorrow night; hopefully we’ll have bowled them out for 150 or 200.”

 

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