2016 review: May to August

We continue our review of the year with the second of three instalments …

MAY

· After two away draws to start the season, Kent beat Glamorgan by 10 wickets helped by century stands in each innings by openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Tom Latham – only the third time this has been achieved in the club’s history.

· Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly set new Kent record T20 stand of 150 as the Spitfires defeat Somerset in the opening NatWest T20 Blast fixture.

· Denly hits his maiden first-class double century against Northamptonshire before becoming a father for the first time.

· Sean Dickson repeats the feat the following week at Derby as a brilliant catch from Adam Ball and nine wickets from Calum Haggett and James Tredwell spark a home collapse and unlikely last-day win at Derby.

· Kent Women win the opening home match of 2016 against Middlesex with a wicket for New Zealand captain Suzie Bates with her first ball for the county.

JUNE

· Alex Blake smashes a six in the last over to defeat Surrey in the opening match of the Royal London One-Day Cup.

· Kent Spitfires stutter in the NatWest T20 Blast with a string of narrow defeats punctuated by televised home wins against Hampshire and Sussex, the latter featuring Kagiso Rabada's debut.

· Tammy Beaumont becomes the first woman to hit back-to-back centuries for England in a 3-0 series sweep of Pakistan, averaging 171.

· Centuries from Joe Denly and Sam Billings are not enough to secure a win in a rain-reduced One-Day Cup match against Glamorgan before bouncing back with a 95-run victory v Somerset.

· Simply Red plays live at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence with a set spanning the 30 years of their career.

JULY

· Daniel Bell-Drummond hits his maiden T20 century against Surrey in a thrilling win at Tunbridge Wells as three successive wins reignite qualification hopes

· After defeats at Middlesex and Surrey, Spitfires bow out at home with defeat to neighbours Essex who clinch the Mike Denness Challenge Shield.

·Kent Women win a record third T20 title with victory against Warwickshire at The County Ground, Beckenham.

· Sam Billings and Daniel Bell-Drummond smash career-best List A scores on successive days as England Lions defeat Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

· Callum Jackson signs a short-term contract to deputise for Sam Billings after Adam Rouse is ruled out for several weeks with a finger injury.

AUGUST

· Matt Coles earns a place in the inaugural North v South match as one of the best performing players in the Royal London One-Day Cup group stage as Kent reached the last eight with successive wins against Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Sussex.

· Kent Spitfires bow out of the One-Day Cup quarter-finals to a full-strength Yorkshire Vikings side featuring eight England internationals in front of a capacity crowd at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

· South African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen signs for the final four Specsavers County Championship matches.

· Batsmen Joe Denly and Sean Dickson sign long-term contract extensions with the club.

· Kent Cricket Academy graduate Hugh Bernard opens the bowling for England Under-19s’ win against Sri Lanka U19s at Canterbury.

· Bryan Adams play live at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

· Kent Women secure a record seventh County Championship title with a convincing win against Berkshire at The County Ground, Beckenham