Kent trounced Essex in the Tunbridge Wells sunshine with a day to spare to win by an innings and 207 runs in turn bringing up their first home win this season in the County Championship.
Records and milestones were reached in the final day of the game as Kent had earlier declared 633/8 – It was Kent’s highest ever score in Kent and their third highest score anywhere and the first time Kent had hit six-hundred since achieving it twice in 2009.
Of Kent’s highest ever scores three of the top four are now registered against Essex and victory today is also Kent’s largest margin of victory against Essex – The previous best dating back to 1922
Resuming the day 420/4 with Darren Stevens (69no) and Ben Harmison (63no) at the crease the hosts began the day steadily notching up early runs.
However Essex found an early breakthrough they desired with the wicket of Stevens as he nicked a Jamie Porter delivery to wicket-keeper and Captain James Foster (76, 437/5).
Harmison and new man Sam Billings were slow early on but as they both got the feel for the wicket duly stepped on and began to play their shots.
After an excellent batting display yesterday Ben Harmison proved he could perform under pressure as he brought up his century (196 balls, sixteen fours) sending a reminder to Kent fans of his batting talent.
With his century and with Billings moving along nicely, the pair brought up one-hundred runs for the session as Billings planted a ball for six over long-on.
However and unfortunately for Harmison he was out just before lunch hitting a Ravi Bopara delivery to David Masters – Harmison out for a very creditable 123, Kent 536/6, in a partnership of ninety-nine runs.
Billings was joined by Calum Haggett and they both survived the five minutes before the break, taking the hosts to 537/6 at lunch and a lead of 277.
With the onset of the afternoon session Billings and in particular Haggett looked to play their shots on a consistent wicket and a fast outfield and reward soon came Kent’s way.
Billings brought about his half century with a four pulled off his legs through square-leg (69 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) which also brought about a lead for the hosts of three-hundred.
With Kent in such a strong position, Billings brought about some unorthodox four-day cricket shots as he used his reverse slog/sweep to great effect.
In an unusual occurrence Ryan ten Doeschate looked to come on to bowl but appeared to pull out and reverted to fielding – Ravi Patel took over bowling duties with an over in which Billings brought about another fifty first innings partnership for Kent.
Midway through the afternoon session Billings secured a quite remarkable landmark for Kent cricket straight driving Bopara – Kent 600/6, and a lead of 340.
In such a commanding position Billings and in particular Haggett looked to play shots for boundaries however the risk added to the strategy and Haggett lost his wicket skying Bopara to ten Doeschate (28, 609/7).
A significant milestone for Kent soon presented itself as the hosts surpassed the previous highest score at The Nevill Ground 615 v Lancashire in 2004.
With the milestone saw another wicket fall as Bopara struck once again – New batsman James Tredwell edging to ‘keeper Foster (1, 616/8).
In a quick-fire ending to the innings Sam Billings brought up his maiden County Championship century for Kent – So close last week at The Oval (99) – This week going one better.
Billings’ hundred came from a single and came off 113 balls with ten fours and one six.
New batsman Mitch Claydon middled the next ball for six pulling it through the leg-side and with it brought a Kent declaration – The hosts amassing 633/8, and a lead of 373 runs.
With fifty overs left in the days play Kent got off to the dream start at young opening bowler Matt Hunn struck twice – Hunn’s first ball was lofted to backward point to Joe Denly (1, 1/1) soon followed back by fellow opener Jaik Mickleburgh, clean bowled, (9, 10/2)
After a period of consolidation Kent struck again in a magical early spell. Sam Northeast rewarded himself with a bowling change at the Railway End as Calum Haggett, with his second ball, bagged the wicket of Bopara (5, 31/3) caught by the Captain at short cover.
New batsman Jesse Ryder soon made his intention known spraying the ball for fours and in one case a six but he brought about his own unnecessary demise before tea.
James Tredwell, coming on to bowl the customary last over before the break, saw his first ball go for four by Ryder and after a dot-ball, proceeded to fire the spinners third ball straight to Hunn at mid-off for the easiest of catches – Hunn simply didn’t have to move (29, 66/4)
The tea interval proved to be no respite for the visitors as Tom Westley returned to from whence he came namely the pavilion edging Haggett down leg-side and taken by Billings (22, 68/5)
Essex once again looked to consolidate with new batsman James Foster and plugged away at the huge deficit Kent had left however the hosts had visions of perhaps a sneaky early finish with a day to spare and with it Stevens took his first wicket of the innings trapping Ryan ten Doeschate leg-before (27, 104/6)
The game entered a quiet period as Kent continued to probe to find another breakthrough and with the number of overs in the day reducing and the game looking likely to go into a final day until Hunn took his third wicket for the day.
James Foster who had looked quite settled and setting his stall out for the rest of the day edged one that went tall on him – Foster could only edge it to Tredwell in the slips and Essex were seven-down (34, 133/7)
The end was seemingly nigh.
As the clock went past the standard finish time of 6pm, Kent continued their quest for a three-day victory with yet more reward as Masters was the eighth wicket to fall with Hunn successful once more with substitute fielder Piers Richardson taking an easy catch (8, 153/8).
The hosts didn’t have to wait for long as the tail subsided. Porter was the ninth to fall as Haggett trapped the Essex No 10 leg-before (1, 156/9)
Graham Napier showed resistance for the cause as he pulled Hunn for six but the inevitable soon arrived as Ravi Patel edged a Haggett delivery to Harmison at third slip, bringing the game to an end (0, 166ao).
Kent clinically polished off Essex’s second innings in three hours to complete a wonderful victory.
There were so many highlights and key individual performances of note by the Kent side in this game at Tunbridge Wells which all came together to bring about such a resounding victory.
Next up, Essex (Away, Friday, T20) followed by Essex (Home, Sunday, One Day Cup).
Kent: Bell-Drummond, Denly, Key, Northeast ©, Harmison, Stevens, Billings (w), Haggett, Tredwell, Claydon, Hunn
Essex: Browne, Mickleburgh, Westley, Bopara, Ryder, ten Doeschate, Foster © (w), Napier, Masters, Porter, Patel
Essex:
260 (Westley 77, ten Doeschate 54, Bopara 42; Stevens 4/37, Haggett 3/54, Hunn 2/78 – Billings 5 catches)
166 (Napier 35no; Haggett 4/43, Hunn 4/47)
Kent:
633/8 (Harmison 123, Billings 100*, Bell-Drummond 81, Stevens 76, Key 71, Denly 69; Bopara 3/89)
Kent: 24pts
Essex: 3pts