An Australian Inspired Revival
After the recent comeback by the Aussies in Adelaide, I decided to return to playing some ICC and continue in the 2017 season of my Kent game. I kept an almost unchanged lineup coming into the 3rd County match of the season, the battle against Nottinghamshire. I took a risk with replacing young left arm pacemen George Delfin, with reliable yet out of form spinner Luke Valentine. The risk was the pitch didn't look as though it would turn but I had a feeling the last day might spin a little.
Nottinghamshire won the toss and batted on a flat pitch. Openers Benham and Cook proved to be some resistance to our bowlers but English veteran Isaac Eton-Webbe was giving them little, going for just over 2 an over. Valentine's inclusion seemed a wrong move as he was smashed at 4 and over, taking 1 wicket. Cook and Dooland racked up 50s in a reasonable total of 375.
When I went in, I was confident of some luck but opener Corey Trumble from Australia was caught in the 10th over and it all went downhill from there. In-form captain Josh Styris made a start before a terrible run-out and No. 5 Ray Oldfield notched up a 50 but there was no support and we we bundled for 193.
Surprisingly, Nottinghamshire sent us in and this time Trumble and Kent slogger Adrian Cleverley put on 100 for the first wicket. Cleverley scored a century from 100 balls, with 50s from Styris and Milton Jessop. But Oldfield scored quickly in the last session of the 3rd day and getting support from the tail to give Kent a 200 run lead going into the final day.
With only 70 runs added by halfway through the opening session, the tactic was to attack but 3 wickets fell for 3 runs, leaving Nottinghamshire to get 277 to win. With 2 and a half sessions, it was possible for either side to win, or a draw. Nottinghamshire however collapsed under the tight bowling of Eton-Webbe and Valentine, who eventually made some in-roads, taking a wicket. Reiffel and Geary cleaned up quickly and Nottinghamshire lost by 136 runs.
Below are some of the screens from the match.
1: Just before tea, Day 4
2: Final Scorecard
3: 3rd wicket partnership
4: Oldfield's century