Kent Spitfires beat Essex Eagles by four runs in a high-scoring and entertaining T20 friendly at Canterbury on Good Friday.
On a sunny bank holiday afternoon, the Spitfires amassed an impressive 202-3 from their 20 overs, with Daniel Bell-Drummond, Sean Dickson and Darren Stevens all making half-centuries; Stevens ending on an unbeaten 64 from just 28 balls.
Calum Haggett was then the pick of the bowlers for the home side, taking 3/31, with Kent impressing in the field, holding onto a number of tough chances. That Essex got as close to the Spitfires total as they did – ending on 198-8 from their 20-over allocation – was tribute to a good early season pitch and positive batting, with both sides making the most of a short boundary on the Old Dover Road side of the ground.
Unlike the Spitfires, the Essex fielders showed real signs of pre-season rustiness in the field, and were guilty of putting down a number of chances during the Kent innings.
The result was not the be-all and end-all from a pre-season game like this, though the Spitfires will be pleased to have held on for a closely-fought victory against their local rivals. The fixture also provided an opportunity for Kent to give a number of their younger players useful match-situation experience while they were at it, including the likes of Hugh Bernard, Imran Qayyum and Charlie Hartley.
Originally, the plan had been for the two sides to play two T20 friendlies on the day, until overnight rain meant that The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence was somewhat damp by the morning, with the decision then taken to play just the one match.
The sides had also faced each other in a two-day friendly over the previous couple of days, giving both teams the chance to prepare for the coming campaign with some much-needed time in the middle.
Kent won the toss and chose to bat in the Spring sunshine, with Daniel Bell-Drummond (53) and Sean Dickson (52) both making half-centuries in a 103-run opening stand before being dismissed by Essex spinner Ashar Zaidi.
Darren Stevens’ arrival at the crease in the 13th over saw the run rate start to rise, as he repeatedly peppered the short boundary. The all-rounder, who turns 40 next month, sent a number of balls sailing over the hoardings on Happy Hill, though he was somewhat fortunate to be dropped three times on his way to a top-scoring, 28-ball 64.
Stevens’ big hitting eventually helped Kent to a total of 202-3 from their 20 overs; a strong-looking score, even given the shorter boundary on one side of the ground.
The visitors’ reply then didn’t get off to the best of starts, with Stevens again their nemesis. The wily all-rounder picked up two wickets in the third over of the innings, and when Imran Qayyum dismissed Ravi Bopara in the ninth to leave Essex 62-3, it looked as though Kent would see the game home without too much trouble.
Ryan ten Doeschate and Zaidi then took the attack to a young Kent bowling unit, and brought their side back into the game in the next six or seven overs. By the time Zaidi was dismissed for 54 from 22 balls with just under five overs left, Essex were right back in the game, requiring a further 61 runs to win at that point.
The Eagles continued to look to attack the same short boundary that Stevens had exploited so well during his innings, with ten Doeschate in particular looking dangerous. It was the fall of his wicket at the start of the penultimate over, as he was caught in the deep by Cowdrey off the bowling of Haggett, that looked like it might have finally turned the tide in the Spitfires favour.
Three further wickets fell in the final 10 balls, as Hartley, who had earlier taken some stick from the Essex batsmen, bowled a decent final over to see the Spitfires home. It is also worth mentioning the efforts of Bernard, Kent’s 19-year-old seamer, who had earlier bowled four tight and consistent overs that cost his side just 21 runs.
Kent Spitfires (202-3; Stevens 64*, Bell-Drummond 53, Dickson 52; Zaidi 2/26) beat Essex Eagles (198-8; ten Doeschate 78, Zaidi 54; Haggett 3/31) by four runs.
Full scorecard available here.