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Twenty 20 Cup off with a bang

Saturday, July 3 2004

Andrew Symonds dominated for Kent in the first round of Twenty20 matches, scoring only the second century in the history of the competition at the astonishing strike rate of 300.

Captaining the side, Symonds hammered a sensational 112 from just 43 balls with 18 fours and 3 sixes, as Kent cruised past their 18 over target of 157 with 29 balls to spare.

At Old Trafford, the Leicestershire spinners out-performed their counterparts from Lancashire, as ex-England man Jeremy Snape bowled a fine spell to cause the Red Rose to stutter after a fine start, and end up short in a match reduced to 19 overs a side.

Spin was also in evidence at Northampton, where a brutal innings from Darren Thomas saw Glamorgan home after Jason Brown looked to have won it for the hosts.

In a low scoring affair at Trent Bridge, both Nottinghamshire openers fell first ball as the home team slumped to 5-3 before the side recovered to chase down Durham's meagre effort.

A team bowling effort from Yorkshire set up a chase which saw them scrape home off the last ball of their rain-adjusted target of 108 from 15 overs, Phil Jacques playing the crucial knock, which was bizarrely one of the slowest of the day.

Last year's beaten finalists Warwickshire got off to a flyer, as the rain interrupted their reply to a poor effort from Somerset, Brad Hogg being the star with the ball. Set 101 in 16 overs, the Bear's cruised home in less than 10 thanks in the main to pinch-hitter Neil Carter's brutal assault in the first 2 overs, when he hit 4 sixes in his first 8 balls.

It was another very tight finish at New Road, where Jack Russell's replacement, Stephen Adshead saw his fine innings not enough to see his side past a target set up by great knocks by Graeme Hick and Andy Bichel.

Essex had Graham Napier to thank, after his burst sent Hampshire tumbling to just 95 all out and a big defeat after their bowlers had appeared to have given them a fighting chance.

Finally defending champions Surrey started in style, amassing the highest score and the biggest margin of victory of the night, former captain Adam Hollioake ripping out the Sussex middle order to condemn them to defeat after a very promising start to their run chase. Jame Kirtley in particular disappointed in conceding 63 from his 4 overs.


Score Summary:
DERBYSHIRE 133-8 [Adnan 32(27), Hoggard 3-23(4), Sliverwood 2-30(4), Bresnan 1-21(4), Dawson 1-21(4)] lost to YORKSHIRE 108-9 [Jaques 36*(37), Ali 2-16(3), Moss 1-7(2)] by 1 wicket.
ESSEX 135-9 [Irani 36(23), Mascarenhas 3-22(4), Udal 2-24(4), Tremlett 2-27(4)] beat Hampshire 95 [Napier 3-13(3), Bopara 3-18(3), Cowan 2-20(4)] by 40 runs.
KENT 157-3 [Symonds 112(43)] beat MIDDLESEX 155-7 [Keegan 42(16), Saggers 2-14(4)] by 7 wickets.
LANCASHIRE 131-6 [Mongia 47(36), Snape 2-13(4), Hodge 0-15(3)] lost to LEICESTERSHIRE 139-9 [Maddy 51(27), Mongia 3-19(4), Keedy 2-23(4)] by 8 runs.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 162-5 [van Jaarsveld 61*(48), Croft 0-20(4)] lost to GLAMORGAN 166-5 [Thomas 43*(19), Maynard 34(23), Brown 2-17(4)] by 5 wickets.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 122-7 [Pietersen 67(48), Bridge 2-16(4), Onions 2-25(4), Breese 1-24(4)] beat DURHAM 120 [Mustard 64(46), Logan 2-7(1.4), Clough 2-18(4), Ealham 1-17(4)]
SUSSEX 121 [Prior 35(25), Hollioake 4-14(3), Doshi 2-11(4)] lost to SURREY 221-8 [Ramprakash 46(31), Brown 45(25), Newman 38(26), Butcher 35(23), Davis 2-24(4)] by 100 runs.
WARWICKSHIRE 101-3 [Carter 42(23)] beat Somerset 120 [Parsons 31(32), Hogg 4-9(3.5), Pretorius 2-27(4), Carter 1-13(4), Brown 0-8)] by 7 wickets.
WORCESTERSHIRE 184-9 [Hick 73(52), Bichel 58*(30), Averis 2-24(3), Fisher 2-28(3), Lewis 2-30(4)] beat GLOUCESTERSHIRE 183-5 [Adshead 81(56), Taylor 36(27), Malik 2-27(4), Bichel 2-34(4)] by 1 run.f

Posted by Marc