Middlesex wrap up victory over Kent
It took Middlesex only 21 minutes on the third morning to complete a nine-wicket victory against Kent in an County Championship Division Two encounter which attracted an ECB pitch panel to Lord's
21-Jun-2011
It took Middlesex only 21 minutes on the third morning to complete a nine-wicket victory against Kent in an County Championship Division Two encounter which attracted an ECB pitch panel to Lord's.
Twenty-three wickets fell on the first day of the match, prompting ECB pitch liaison officer Tony Pigott to convene a three-man panel at the end of the second day's play. Pigott, fellow pitch officer Jack Birkenshaw and ECB pitches consultant Chris Wood interviewed both captains and coaches, both umpires and the Lord's groundstaff before deciding that the surface did not warrant a points penalty. But the panel did mark the well-grassed pitch "below average" for producing excessive seam movement.
Kent employed occasional bowlers Joe Denly and James Goodman when Middlesex resumed on 120 for 1 as they chased 167 for a fourth championship victory of the season. Opener Sam Robson, unbeaten on 59 overnight, pulled Denly for six into the Tavern Stand and also hit him through extra cover off the back foot as he finished on 94 not out.
Dan Housego late cut Denly for four and Kent continued to go through the motions as Robson extra-cover drove Goodman to the boundary and then deposited a long hop from Denly for another four.
The end came even more quickly when Rob Key, the Kent captain, brought himself on to attempt some leg spin from the Nursery End. Robson first straight drove Key for four and then punched a full toss wide of mid on for the winning boundary.
Robson faced 121 balls overall, hitting 12 fours and a six, while Housego finished on 13 not out.
Middlesex took 19 points for the win, which maintained their bid for promotion from the second division, while Kent picked up just three points.
