Kent Spitfires made it three wins in four YB40 games with a tense three wicket win over Worcestershire at Canterbury.

Skipper James Tredwell led the way as the Spitfires chased down their victory target of just 111, but not without alarm as Worcestershire made them work for the win.

The game was to finally get underway at 7pm with it reduced to just 25 overs per side after heavy rain throughout Kent for the proceeding 24 hours.

When the coin came down and James Tredwell picked the right way, the Spitfires skipper didn’t hesitate in asking Worcestershire to bat first.

It took Kent just two balls to breakthough with Mark Davies encouraging Moeen Ali to fend at a ball that went straight to Brendan Nash at point for nought and he finished the over just as well, clocking up a maiden.

Kent didn’t have to wait too much longer for the second wicket as Daryl Mitchell fended at a ball just outside his off stump from Matt Coles, guiding it nicely into James Tredwell’s hands at slip, leaving the visitors struggling on 13 for 2.

Just as it seemed as though Worcestershire were getting back into the game, Thilan Samaraweera lofted the ball off Davies down to the boundary and Sam Billings had the presence of mind to throw the ball back up in the air when it seemed as though it was going to go for six, step over the rope, come back into play and take the catch, leaving the visitors struggling on 34 for 3 after 8.3 overs.

If the crowd thought they’d seen the best catch of the night, they were to be mistaken as Alex Kervezee (27) looked to drive Darren Stevens down the ground, but Ben Harmison back-pedalled and scooped the ball out of the air as it flew over his shoulder, leaving the Spitfires in charge with Worcestershire 50 for 4.

A few sharp chances were to come James Tredwell’s way at slip, but tight bowling from Stevens and Adam Ball kept the run rate down.

With fifteen overs gone, Worcestershire had only amassed 61 for 4 with Adam Riley and James Tredwell bowling in tandem.

Riley was to strike in his second over with Neil Pinner drilling the ball to Matt Coles at mid off for 14, leaving the visitors 64 for 5.

Having smashed Matt Coles down the ground for six, the Kent bowler got his revenge on Gareth Andrew the very next ball rearranging his stumps when on 11, leaving Worcestershire in disarray at 75 for 6.

Matt Coles was to pick up another wicket in his next over as Ben Cox scooped the ball down to Darren Stevens at fine leg, taking a fine catch to reduce the Royals to 85 for 7.

Some later order hitting saw Worcestershire bring up three figures in the 23rd over, but once again Adam Ball proved to be hard to get away.

With the batsmen looking to accelerate, both Brett D’Oliveira and Michael Johnson ended up at the same end after pushing for a second run with Matt Coles firing the ball into Geraint Jones who happily took the bails off.

In Coles’ next over, the Kent fast bowler picked up his fourth wicket of the game, picking up the edge of Johnson for 11 and Worcs were in total despair at 102 for 9. They were to muster 110 for 9 in their 25 overs setting Kent a modest target to chase.

However, their reply started in slow fashion and trying to force the pace, Sam Billings pulled the ball back to Jack Shantry for just two.

Brendan Nash was looking as assured as ever calmly making his way to eleven before an inswinging delivery from Shantry trapped him in front leaving Kent with a slight mountain to climb at 19 for 2.

That was soon to be 27 for 3 with Darren Stevens playing the ball straight back to Gareth Andrew for 2.

With batting proving to be far from easy under the lights at the St Lawrence Ground, Rob Key and Ben Harmison set about settling a few nerves for the crowd that had stayed on after the early rain, but they were back on the edge of their seats as Harmison was trapped lbw by Shantry for 0 leaving the Spitfires 28 for 4.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Key was bowled by Mitchell for 11 leaving Kent 35 for 5 after 11 overs and looking down the barrel.

Geraint Jones was looking to play some nice shots, but at the other end Adam Ball played his second ball down the ground to Cox at mid on off Mitchell without troubling the scorers leaving Kent at an alarming 45 for 6.

With the side seemingly heading for defeat and the dew coming down, brother-in-laws Geraint Jones and James Tredwell set about repairing the damage whilst dispatching the bad balls to the boundary.

Tredwell was in no mood to nudge the ball around and almost cleaned up the Spitfire Sweethearts cheerleaders with a six just in front of the Les Ames Stand.

Jones was in equally bullish form, but picked out Shantry down at fine leg when on 30, leaving the side still needing 19 off 27 balls.

Back to back boundaries from Tredwell (42 not out) saw the target down to ten and in the end it was he and Matt Coles that saw the Spitfires home with eleven balls to spare.

 

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl.

Kent side: Key, Billings, Nash, Stevens, Harmison, Jones, Ball, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Riley.

Worcs side: Ali, Mitchell, Kervezee, Samaraweera, Pinner, Andrew, Johnson, Cox, D’Oliveira, Lucas, Shantry.

Umpires: S Garratt & D Millns

Result: Worcs 110 for 9 (25 overs; Coles 4-20), Kent 111 for 7 (23.1 overs; Tredwell 42no, Jones 30) Kent Spitfires won by three wickets.