Kent Spitfires RLODC Q/F at Trent Bridge Loss

SPITFIRES BLAST OUTLAWS AWAY

Kent cruised to a simple victory on an easy paced pitch at Trent Bridge today led by an unbeaten ton by Heino Kuhn. Having been put in; Notts top order misfired once more; losing 4 wickets in the opening power play. Three of their batsman namely Nash, Moores and Wessels were all culpable for their own dismissals against a team whose strength, Matt Henry apart, is in their batting. At 23 for four, Notts were in a dire position but thanks to skipper Mullaney's 90 and a List A best of 53 not out from Luke Fletcher, Notts got to 255 for eight which although looking at least 50 under par had at least gave Notts a chance if early wickets were taken. Unfortunately Kolpak signing Heino Kuhn scoring his third ton in the competition this season made mincemeat of the Notts attack as Kent cantered home by nine wickets with 14.1 overs unused. Harry Gurney preferred to Luke Wood did not look match fit as his four overs went for 40. But in truth with the ball hardly beating the bat all day the Notts score looked hopelessly inadequate. Notts problems now mount as they without Mullaney for the next fortnight. Who replaces him at Chelmsford is open to conjecture, but Luke Wood is probably the favourite, there are no obvious batting replacements. Based on the first half of the season, Chris Nash does not look the part in the top order and needs to drop down to six or seven. Kuhn's performances this season prove that there are decent Kolpak's are available if you look hard enough. However should Notts go down this short term route or should more emphasis be put on producing their own home batsman something they have not achieved since Samit Patel 15 years ago. Notts the holders have done well given their tiny squad size to reach the last six of the Royal London; being bailed out repeatedly by their bowlers. Unfortunately today was a game too far.

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl in sunny but very blustery conditions. Henry opened up with a maiden from the Radcliffe Road End. Wessels then got a three off Podmore's first ball and next ball Nash failing to move his feet fished outside off stump and was by keeper Billings for a golden duck. Moores was flashing and missing, he eventually edged Podmore and departed for an 18 ball seven, 16 for 2 in the eighth over. Taylor lasted 5 balls until being plumb leg before to Henry for a single, 23 for three. Next over Wessels (13) pulled Podmore to Bell-Drummond at deep square leg, 23 for four. Notts completed the first power play on 25 for four. Henry with figures of 6-2-10-1 finished his spell and on came Haggett. Then Stevens replaced Podmore (3 for 25 off 6 overs) and was hit for successive off side fours by Mullaney. After three overs the veteran was not given another spell. The 50 partnership between Patel and Mullaney took 55 balls as Notts started to fight back. Denly came on for the 20th over and slow left armer Imran Qayyum for the 23rd over. In his second over Qayyum got Patel (27) to drive him straight to Kuhn at extra cover, 93 for 5. The fifth wicket had added 70 in 15 overs. The 100 came up in the 27th over. A swept four off Qayyum saw Mullaney get to 50 in 62 balls. Root had joined Mullaney and they raised a 50 partnership in 56 balls. With Notts on 146 for 5 after 36 overs, Matt Henry returned from the Radcliffe Road End. Denly bowled his 10 overs stint on the bounce and conceded 42. Root was caught at mid wicket by Heino Kuhn off Qayyum for 41 off 53 balls (3 x 4), 172 for six. Fletcher hit Qayyum's last ball through extra cover for 4, but the slow left armer only went for 46 and picked up 2 wickets. With Notts running out of overs, Mullaney had to now go for his shots, he mistimed Podmore and was caught by Qayyum at short third man off Podmore for 90 off 108 balls with eight fours, 198 for seven. Fletcher hit Podmore for six over cow corner, the first of the innings. Podmore after his early success, 4 for 57. Fletcher hit Henry for consecutive off side fours. Carter than hit an effortless leg side six off Haggett, 13 off the over. Henry (1 for 43) was then hit for six over square leg by Fletcher, the over costing 17, Fletcher getting to his 50 off 32 balls. Carter hit Haggett for a straight six 50 partnership in 23 balls. Carter was caught on deep mid wicket ropes for 17. Notts 255 for eight. The eighth wicket had garned 57 runs. Luke Fletcher 53 not out off 34 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Heino Kuhn got Kent off to a brisk start off Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Jake Ball (Radcliffe Road End) scoring 34 of the 38 runs off the first six overs. Patel came on the seventh over and Gurney who conceded 14 off his opening over including a six for Kuhn. The Kolpak player got to his 50 off 40 balls. Gurney clearly lacking fitness then conceded a further 13 in his second over. Kent 76 for 0 off 10 overs were running away with it. Carter and Mullaney then replaced Patel and Gurney after the completion of the first powerplay. The hundred partnership between Kuhn and Bell-Drummond came up after 15 overs. Batting was extremely easy, Kuhn lifting Mullaney over his head for six. Notts heads were now dropping in the field as Mullaney rotated his bowlers to no avail. Bell-Drummond got to his 50 in 46 balls and then Kuhn got to his 100 in 87 balls; the game was over as a contest and lacked any competitive edge. Finally Carter had Bell-Drummond stumped for 79 (73 balls, 8 x 4, 1 x 6). The 1st wicket added 194 in 29 overs. Denly then came in and blasted five sixes and four fours in unbeaten 52 off 28 balls as Kent got home by nine wickets with 85 balls unused. Heino Kuhn 124 not out off 114 balls with 13 fours and two sixes now has 537 runs in this year’s competition; a superb signing for Kent. Notts bowling was very ordinary on the flat wicket with no bowler bowling to potential. Kent who fully deserved their victory now go to New Road on Sunday. Notts have to lick their wounds and go to Essex next Wednesday for extremely difficult game with the brittle batting line up further depleted. MAG

The Outlaws squad: 

Chris Nash
Riki Wessels
Tom Moores
Ross Taylor
Samit Patel
Steven Mullaney
Billy Root
Luke Wood
Luke Fletcher
Matt Carter
Jake Ball
Matt Milnes
Jack Blatherwick
Harry Gurney

So England have released Jake Ball from bottle duty but held Alex Hales back.

On paper a lot of bowling to choose from, for a change but on mid-week form for the Academy, it might be a difficult pick to change from the now winning formula, leaving Gurney in his natural habitat, serving drinks.