Kent Spitfires 161 (19.4 overs)
Sussex Sharks 195-9 (20 overs)
Sussex Sharks win by 34 runs.
A comprehensive victory earned the Sussex Sharks four points as they beat the Kent Spitfires by 34 runs in the Vitality Blast at Canterbury.
Daniel Hughes top-scored with 48 as Sussex made 195-9 despite no one passing 50.
Kent bowler Nathan Gilchrist took 3 for 31 and Harry Finch then hit his highest Blast score against his former county, making 56 off 25 balls. When he was out, the chase fell apart.
Danny Lamb took key wickets at crucial moments, claiming 5 for 15 and Tymal Mills claimed 3 for 20. Lamb wrapped up the win with two balls to spare when he bowled Fred Klaassen.
Kent lived to regret putting Sussex in. The visitors were 30 without loss when Jack Leaning bowled Harrison Ward for 11 at the start of the fifth over.
But Hughes then blazed 48 from 28 balls and, although Tom Rogers bowled him at the end of the 10th over, the Sharks were 112-2 by halfway.
Wickets at least slowed the scoring rate. Joey Evison bowled James Coles for 12 and Tom Clark was furious with himself when he tried to scoop Gilchrist to fine leg and was lbw for 43.
Klaassen looked as surprised as anyone when he had Tom Alsop caught behind for 15, given by the square leg umpire Nigel Llong.
John Simpson tried to hook Gilchrist and was caught on the boundary by Rogers for 12 – and Rogers bowled Nathan McAndrew for five.
The 19th over, however, was expensive, going for 18. Gilchrist bowled a wide, Danny Lamb was caught behind off a bottom edge, then Gilchrist bowled three no balls, one of which was a head-high beamer.
Not for the first time this season, Kent missed the cut off but Mills was run out by Billings and Klaassen help them to six off the 20th, despite the last ball being fumbled over the boundary for four.
Sussex looked favourites, especially after Coles bowled Tawanda Muyeye for seven in the second over. But the Hastings-born Finch came in and blasted 50 off 21 balls before Henry Crocombe had him caught by Hughes at third man.
The momentum switched again, this time for good, when Joe Denly was bamboozled by Lamb’s slower ball and bowled for three.
Crocombe then took a stunning catch to get Daniel Bell-Drummond for 26 after he skied Lamb, sprinting in from the boundary and somehow keeping the ball off the turf.
Mills got Sam Billings for 16, caught on the boundary by Coles, and Evison holed out to Lamb and was caught by Robinson.
When Mills bowled Jack Leaning for 16, Rogers was left with the tail – and the run rate was nearly 15 an over. Mills got him for four, caught at short third man and the crowd started streaming for the exits.
Klaassen and Gilchrist needed a theoretically possible 36 off the last over but Lamb bowled Gilchrist off the first ball and clinched the win when he cleaned up Klaassen three balls later.
…
Danny Lamb said: “It was excellent. It was set up really well with the bat with the top four on what was a really tricky wicket.
“It felt at half-time the score was really competitive and obviously that turned out to be the case.
“Slower balls worked into the surface really well and it was really tough to score. I found it hard at the end batting and that’s what they were doing.
“I think it was a new ball pitch with the bat. It seemed to slide on a bit better. But as soon as the lacquer came off it started gripping and slightly more and it became tough to score.
“It’s been a tough year with injuries, etc, etc. It’s been a lot of hard work and finally it’s paid dividends.
“I’ve still got PTSD (from the catch that injured him) to be honest. It was not very nice so I’ve got a nice scar to show for it and, yeah, we’ll move on from that.
“It’s difficult but I think I’ve got a pretty good work life balance. My home life’s good and I walk the dogs. That’s how I keep sane.
“It’s part and parcel of being an athlete. You’re going to pick up injuries along the way. I’ve had my fair share now so hopefully it’ll be plain sailing from now on – touch wood!
“I’ve been patient and had to wait my turn. There have been a few injuries here and there but I’ve contributed tonight and we’ve got the win.”
He was happy with his career best figures, adding: “It’s quite popular with the lads. I’ve got to get a round in at the Cricketers after the game tomorrow so it’s a bit disappointing, isn’t it?
“It’ll cost me a few quid. It’s a £150 round at least, isn’t it! And I’m a tight northerner!”
…
Nathan Gilchrist said that his Kent team-mates would pick themselves up for their next match on Sunday.
He said: “Maybe we let them get off to too much of a good start. I think we did well to drag it back in the end.
“Losing wickets consistently didn’t help us when we were batting but that’s the nature of T20 and we’ll go again in the next game on Sunday.
“It (the pitch) was a bit of a weird one at the start. I think it was just gripping at the surface so cross-seam balls seemed to have a bit more bounce than usual.
“So I was bowling cross-seam balls and hoping to get a bit of extra bounce and holding the surface which helped me.
“We’ve been lucky so far in this tournament to have Deebs and Tawanda at the top of the order. They’ve been pretty consistent putting bowlers under pressure.
“Harry stepped up today when we needed it. It’s just a shame that the other guys got out when they did but it happens. He obviously had big shoes to fill.
“Zak played really well when he was with us but we all know what Harry can do and tonight he showed us. He started very, very slow but caught up quickly.
“They’re very experienced bowlers with Tymal and Robinson. There were a few young bowlers who did well tonight.
“And Danny Lamb took five for so they have a really good bowling attack. In this competition anyone can beat anyone and unfortunately it wasn’t our night tonight.”
