I was lucky enough to umpire the Kent u18 team in their National T20 competition against Surrey u18's at the Beckenham County ground on Friday. So much potential on show!
It was a very cold, and damp day, with consistent drizzle. A wet patch on a repaired wicket was very slow to dry following a storm the previous day, and that delayed the start.
Kent eventually won the toss and bowled, starting with a wicket maiden! Surrey rebuilt, and in Skipper Adam Thomas and Oliver Hunt they had two very good batters. Thomas hit two sixes; one punched a hole high in the black sightscreen and the other (hopefully hit someone) landing deep in the Crystal Palace training ground (we didn't get the ball back...). They ended with 168.
Kent struggled with the pace of the two Surrey opening bowlers, but hung in, and then started to carve the ball all over. Ekansh Singh (28) and Ben Dawkins (50) rattled the score along, and the hundred came up in the 12th over. Three wickets then fell quickly, including "star" player Jaydn Denley (1), slightly controversially caught on the boundary edge (one of those where the player throws the ball up, steps back over the boundary, and then jumps back to catch it) . The three Surrey spinners tied things up, and it looked all over when 33 were needed off the last three overs, then 22 off two, and even at 11 off the last over. Only two singles came from the first three balls of the returning opening quick bowler, but then Eesa Faheem swung hard, and lofted the ball (with the help of the strong northerly wind) way over third mans head for six. Three off two balls required but only one was needed as Eesa did it again next ball, just clearing the boundary this time. Kent won by 4 wickets with a ball to spare!
It was great to see the talent on show at close quarters, but soooooo cold; but at least we did get the game in!
I'm assuming Harry Fulton is son of David? If he more of bowler as he didn't bat?
Harry is the son of David and he has a brother called Freddie. Harry is more of a batsman and opens for Whitstable 1s and whilst he does pick up wickets his overall ER isn't that great. Whitstable have, in fact, four relations of current/former Kent cricketers in their 1s - Jaydn and Sam (nephew and brother of Joe), Harry Fulton and Ethan Saggers, son of Martin, who is also in the Kent age group system.
116-3 after 13.3. I hadn't realised the game started at 1pm. A very early start for a T20, perhaps they should have played a John Player 40 over match instead
Went to the match. Very enjoyable, I like the Rose Bowl (as I prefer to call it) as a venue. Weather helped. Kent began well but lost some poor wickets and limped to 165 which didn’t seem enough. Hants’ power play almost identical to Kent’s: good start, both number 3s scored nought and they also fell away and behind the run rate. How did Kent lose? With 42 needed off three overs, Fuller hit Swanepoel for three successive straight sixes to reduce it to 24 off 2.5 overs. Kent fought back, 9 needed off the last over: 1 W 1 then Stewart bowled a short ball that Lawson pulled for 6! One final piece of note: when Parkinson, following up, was hit and pole-axed by his batting partner, the bowler had ample opportunity to run him out but he simply picked up the ball and walked back to his mark.
Went to the match. Very enjoyable, I like the Rose Bowl (as I prefer to call it) as a venue. Weather helped. Kent began well but lost some poor wickets and limped to 165 which didn’t seem enough. Hants’ power play almost identical to Kent’s: good start, both number 3s scored nought and they also fell away and behind the run rate. How did Kent lose? With 42 needed off three overs, Fuller hit Swanepoel for three successive straight sixes to reduce it to 24 off 2.5 overs. Kent fought back, 9 needed off the last over: 1 W 1 then Stewart bowled a short ball that Lawson pulled for 6! One final piece of note: when Parkinson, following up, was hit and pole-axed by his batting partner, the bowler had ample opportunity to run him out but he simply picked up the ball and walked back to his mark.
Fair play to Wood because it was the penultimate ball and the final one was hit by Evison for a boundary. Given how close the match was, his sportsmanship could easily have cost Hants the match. Not every player at any level would do that.
Comments
It was a very cold, and damp day, with consistent drizzle. A wet patch on a repaired wicket was very slow to dry following a storm the previous day, and that delayed the start.
Kent eventually won the toss and bowled, starting with a wicket maiden! Surrey rebuilt, and in Skipper Adam Thomas and Oliver Hunt they had two very good batters. Thomas hit two sixes; one punched a hole high in the black sightscreen and the other (hopefully hit someone) landing deep in the Crystal Palace training ground (we didn't get the ball back...). They ended with 168.
Kent struggled with the pace of the two Surrey opening bowlers, but hung in, and then started to carve the ball all over. Ekansh Singh (28) and Ben Dawkins (50) rattled the score along, and the hundred came up in the 12th over. Three wickets then fell quickly, including "star" player Jaydn Denley (1), slightly controversially caught on the boundary edge (one of those where the player throws the ball up, steps back over the boundary, and then jumps back to catch it) . The three Surrey spinners tied things up, and it looked all over when 33 were needed off the last three overs, then 22 off two, and even at 11 off the last over. Only two singles came from the first three balls of the returning opening quick bowler, but then Eesa Faheem swung hard, and lofted the ball (with the help of the strong northerly wind) way over third mans head for six. Three off two balls required but only one was needed as Eesa did it again next ball, just clearing the boundary this time. Kent won by 4 wickets with a ball to spare!
It was great to see the talent on show at close quarters, but soooooo cold; but at least we did get the game in!
Scorecard below:
https://ecbu18.play-cricket.com/website/results/6119197
It's really heartening to hear about our young players coming through especially when they perform so well against "the old enemy" !
Long may it last.
Harry is the son of David and he has a brother called Freddie. Harry is more of a batsman and opens for Whitstable 1s and whilst he does pick up wickets his overall ER isn't that great. Whitstable have, in fact, four relations of current/former Kent cricketers in their 1s - Jaydn and Sam (nephew and brother of Joe), Harry Fulton and Ethan Saggers, son of Martin, who is also in the Kent age group system.
How long will Leaning be out for?
Is it the wicket ? Or their bowling ? Or their field placings? Or our batting ?
16 off 8 required.
Oh well, closer than I thought after our innings.
Kent won the toss and will bowl first