Kent Cricket have confirmed that the Club have accepted a 1-point penalty point deduction following the recent Bob Willis Trophy match against Surrey CCC, on 22-25 August.

The 1-point penalty – which was retrospectively issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching Playing Condition 12.4 through a slow over-rate – will be applied to the Bob Willis Trophy table, with immediate effect.

A statement from the club reads:

“Whilst the Club acknowledges that the match concluded with the required over-rate not being met, the Club have appealed against the decision on a number of grounds and have had extensive communication with ECB about the extenuating circumstances.

The Club has expressed its disappointment to ECB that after an entertaining and competitive four-day game at the Kia Oval, which went into the final hour and could have been won by either side, notification of the penalty point deduction due to a slow over rate was received nearly 48 hours after the match.

Whilst ECB acknowledged that communication was not effected as timely as it should have been, ECB have taken the view that there is nothing in the prevailing circumstances that would make the application of the penalty unreasonable.

Whilst disappointed with the outcome, the Club have accepted that the 1-point penalty will be imposed and that it is consistent with decisions made in previous circumstances.

The Club is now looking forward to the next Bob Willis Trophy match against Hampshire on 6-9 September.”