Ball hits century as Kent reach 2nd XI Trophy semi
Friday 12th August 2016
Kent reached the Second XI Trophy with a fine 48-run win inspired by an excellent Adam Ball century and good bowling from the Kent attack.
Ball hit 106 off 90 balls including six fours and three sixes as the hosts posted 308 for eight after being invited to bat first at The County Ground, Beckenham.
Ball and opener Zak Crawley helped Kent recover from a shaky start after Callum Jackson was run out in the third over and Blake was trapped LBW.
Academy graduate Crawley shared a 50 stand with a patient Alex Blake before Ball repeated the feat with Geremy Fatouros for the fourth wicket.
The key stand came with Calum Haggett who hit 49 as he added 106 with Ball in 14.4 overs.
Haggett smashed four sixes as he scored at a run-a-ball and gave his middle order colleagues the overs to continue to attack.
Academy scholar Marcus O’Riordan smashed 25 off 19 balls and Charlie Hartley continued his fine form with 18 off 12 after Ball finally fell in the 48th over.
In reply, Middlesex started steadily reaching 63 for two in the 12th over beforeGeorge Scott and skipper Robbie White added 66 in 12 overs but they were always behind the asking rate.
A tidy 10-over spell from left arm spinner Imran Qayyum restricted the runs and he removed the dangerous White as scoreboard pressure began to tell.
Qayyum finished with 3/39 and Hartley carried the main seam threat with 3/46 from nine overs.
Sam Weller picked up 2/39 from 8.3 overs and there was a wicket each for Ivan Thomas and O’Riordan.
Kent will play Lancashire next Friday (19 August) at the same venue at 10.30am. Entry is free on the gate and the winner will play Somerset or Leicestershire in the final on Thursday 25 August.