Key & van Jaarsveld see Kent home
Kent cruised to their first win of the season by claiming a nine-wicket win over Scotland in their Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C clash at the Grange in Edinburgh
Cricinfo staff
22-May-2010
Kent cruised to their first win of the season by claiming a nine-wicket win over Scotland in their Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C clash at the Grange in Edinburgh. Batting first after winning the toss, the Saltires scored 180 for 6 from their 40 overs, their total built largely around an 87-run fifth-wicket stand between Richie Berrington (68) and Neil McCallum (41).
Kent romped to victory though as skipper Rob Key (67 not out) and vice-captain Martin van Jaarsveld (72 not out) shared in a century partnership after Joe Denly's 38. Kent had not won a match in any competition all season, losing their last Clydesdale Bank 40 game at Warwickshire before falling to defeat against Durham in the County Championship earlier this week.
Scotland, for their part, went into the match apparently in good shape after sending Leicestershire crashing to a four-wicket defeat last week.
The wheels looked to have come off early on for the Saltires, however, when
they fell to 50 for 3. Ryan Watson (24) was bowled by Makhaya Ntini, captain Gavin Hamilton was out for eight, caught by Key off the bowling of Simon Cook and Tasmanian batsman George Bailey, who scored a half-century against the Foxes, was stumped by Geraint Jones for 16.
However, after the dismissal of Omer Hussain left Scotland on 71 for 4, they mounted something of a comeback helped by two players who had played such an important part in the rare away victory against Leicestershire.
Berrington racked up his 68 from 84 balls before he was caught by Amjad Khan and McCallum scored 41 from 52 balls before he was bowled by the same bowler. It left the hosts with a below-par target to defend and Kent quickly set about seeking their first victory of the season.
Denly hit 38 from 45 balls before he was bowled by Majid Haq, but the partnership of Key and Van Jaarsveld followed and simply proved far too powerful for Scotland to break. The win, with more than nine overs to spare, lifted Kent up to fourth in the Group C table.